FEBRUARY 8, 2012 12:03PM

What to Make of Santorum's Somewhat Surprising Wins

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For Tom Brunnell and Bill Koetzle UCI Ph.Ds 1996, Congressional Fellows 1997-98, and twins from another mother forever, if always on exactly the opposite side of the partisan line, which has always been their charm to know: the UCI Doppelganger Effect.

Of course as to contemporary politics, most people on OS think Santorum is horrible, if people on the Right in PA when I lived there thought the reverse, if for exactly the same reasons, which is one advantage Santorum would have in the general election over Romney: Gingrich passion in the Republican Base without the Gingrich baggage.

Of course, that would apply to people who don't like Santorum either, as to motivating the Democratic Base, as the choice between Obama and Santorum would be rather decisive in character, like betweeen Tom Brunell-Obama and Bill Koetzle-Santorum.

I suppose that depends on your theory of how to win elections, but just when you think Romney's got it all locked up, its like someone brings out a cross, holy water, throws sunshine his way, or he stuffs his own foot into his mouth, but so far, for whatever some how some way, Romney just can't quite close the deal yet, which is sometimes the fate of those who try to please too many people, and who therefore please no one in the end, maybe because rightly or wrongly, politics is a game of Us and Them, and if you're in the middle too much, the only team it seems like you're really on is your own.

finis

 

 

 

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He's now established beyond a doubt if Romney wins the nomination he will have to get a fundy on the ticket, if not Santorum himself. Just like McCain had too. That's probably been the entire point of his running. The reason he didn't win SC and Florida is Gingrich got through to the good old boys.
Ben Sen
February 08, 2012 01:33 PM
Perry is a distinct possibility as to Romney's logical choice of running mate, if "good ole boys" might take a second look at a Purple State-Border State person. It's curious how Romney struggles, as my grandfather, who voted R every time since 1944, save curiously for Goldwater, liked Romney, although he was an old school Rockefeller Republican at heart, who liked HW more than Reagan in 1980.
Don Rich
February 08, 2012 02:08 PM
santorum is a hard worker as witnessed by his campaign and perry has a bad case of foot in the mouth disease and bully-bully. 0'bachman is more likely. she's certainly dumb enough.
Ben Sen
February 08, 2012 02:17 PM
Bachman is too ... mockable. Perry as VP gets the South, and with more coaching on policy, he wouldn't hurt the ticket, is my bet, for Romney or Santorum. Gingrich has probably gone too far with Romney to come back now, one advantage of Perry's early exit as to second place. Why he was allowed to go off on the Turks I don't get, if that's really his main issue, and its only one. Immigration that hurt him early, that's a push. Pandering to Israel, that works for some people per the UN thing. One flub as to departments to cut... not fatal. Not perfect, but, that might be the price in some ways of Left Wing academics trying to crush out certain views as to their existing a class of people on the Right who can match them as to articulation.
Don Rich
February 08, 2012 02:24 PM
If Santorum can win the Rust Belt/Great Lake states, he can catch up to Romney.

I think that if Paul, Santorum and Gingrich form a coalition at the Convention, they could unite to smash Romney. We haven't seen that sort of thing happen in a long time. We shall see.
Rw005g
February 08, 2012 07:03 PM
Or RW, people unite around Romney with a "Real Conservative" on the VP slot, someone acceptable to everyone, like I think Perry would make sense, or Ryan from Wisconsin.
Obama is still the favorite, as the incumbent, at peace, compared to recent years at least, and with an economy that is still improving steadily as to employment, and especially as the fear factor recedes. It's likely to be close, but, Obama is entering the race in a reasonable condition, especially compared to what would have happened with a default last summer.
Don Rich
February 08, 2012 07:16 PM
That is true. I just enjoy strategic scenario games, trying to figure out options as the "underdog." I find it to be very stimulating.
Rw005g
February 08, 2012 07:31 PM
Its good to play both sides RW, to understand reaction and counter-reaction, although, sometimes people can misinterpret that as to "whose side are you on?" and not always for bad reasons; hence the complaint that Foreign Service Officers sometimes "go native."
Don Rich
February 08, 2012 07:50 PM