Rick Santorum – Iowa Straw Poll and Iowa Caucus Candidate Guide

Rick Santorum

1. Who is he?

Former Senator Rick Santorum was a member of the U.S. Senate from 1995 to 2007, representing the fine folks of Pennsylvania. While there, he was the third ranking Republican as the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. With a Senate career of 12 years, and two terms in the House of Representatives before that, Rick Santorum was in Washington D.C. for 16 years. He left the Senate after his defeat in the election of 2006. Before his time in Congress, he worked as a lawyer in Pittsburgh.

On the Republican political spectrum, he is very conservative. While he was in Washington D.C. for a long time, he is not a big party insider. However, he is a strong social conservative, and will most likely compete with Michele Bachmann for votes in the upcoming Iowa contests.

Senator Santorum will be 54 years old on election day 2012.

2. Why he could win the primary – Biggest advantages

Two things: Passion and social conservative support

Rick Santorum is perhaps the strongest social conservative in the field. He has certainly taken strong pro-life stands while fighting against gay marriage and polygamy and he has the battle scars to prove it. Family oriented Republicans will like his uncompromising rhetoric towards cultural conservatism.

3. Why he could lose - Biggest weaknesses

His election from 2006, by all accounts, was a disaster.

While it was a down year for Republicans, Senator Rick Santorum was absolutely decimated by his opponent, current Senator Bob Casey, Jr. An incumbent senator losing by 17% is nearly unheard of. From Wikipedia:

Casey's margin of victory was the largest ever for a Democratic Senate nominee in Pennsylvania, and the largest margin of victory for a Senate challenger in the 2006 elections.

This was Rick Santorum’s last election. It was, suffice it to say, unpleasant. Republican primary voters might not be attracted to this wipeout, as it is the Senator’s most recent electoral memory.

4. What the candidate wants you to see

Here’s a no nonsense attack ad from the Santorum campaign, railing against the first three years of President Obama’s first term.



5. What the candidate does NOT want you to see

Much like Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum has a Google problem. We will leave it at that, as it would be inappropriate to venture further down this path.

However, in the era of YouTube and Google, first impressions matter. Rick Santorum’s first impression to many Americans who searched for his name on the internet will be unpleasant. Sorry, Senator.

6. How would he fare against President Obama in Iowa and Ohio

Rick Santorum is coming to the plate with two strikes already against him: his prior loss and his trouble defining himself. While there is no current polling that I could find, I highly doubt that he could win either Iowa or Ohio, which is right next door to his home state of Pennsylvania.

7. Chances that he could win the Presidency

Speaking of Pennsylvania, it is probable that the people of his home state would reject him again in 2012, despite the homefield advantage. Without Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Iowa, a Republican would have a very difficult time winning the Presidency.