US Politics: Is Rick Santorum sticking around?

US Politics / Maxliu / 04 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Santorum in Iowa

"Can the man who lost his Senate seat in 2006 succeed where Gingrich et al have failed and stick around long enough to really challenge?"

Can an Iran-baiting, climate change sceptic who would like to ban contraception make a serious bid to be the Republican nominee? Or will he flounder and fade like Perry, Gingrich et al?

He may have taken the Iowa caucus by storm but you can get odds as long as [250.00] on Betfair if you want to back a Rick Santorum presidency.

Mind you, not long ago you could have backed him at [1000.00]. The former senator for Pennsylvania lost out to Mitt Romney by a mere eight votes from 120,000 cast on Tuesday. He's traded as high as [340.00] to win the nomination but is now in to [14.0].

We've been here before in this most compelling of Republican races. It's hard to believe that Iowa was only the first caucus of the campaign as it feels like the candidates have been duking it out forever. But that's modern politics, a perpetual state of electioneering.

Many on the right of the Republican party are desperate for an alternative to Romney. First there was Michelle Bachmann, the fiery Minnesotan congresswoman who describes homosexuality as "part of Satan" and makes Sarah Palin appear enlightened. Then Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and, off and on, Ron Paul, all saw their odds narrow and hopes rise before gaffes and indiscretions scuppered their chances. So far, Romney has been the only Republican to display any durability.

At the time of writing, all six leading candidates remain in the race - although Perry says he is going home to Texas to think things through - but the spotlight is almost entirely on Santorum. As a social Conservative, the candidate he shares most in common with may be Bachmann. Santorum is more eloquent on the stump but he has said that he would like to annul gay marriages, potentially bomb Iran and has frequently displayed racial insensitivity with his remarks on welfare. Only yesterday, he said that the NHS had "devastated" Britain.

Romney will not take him lightly but whether we will ever find out how Santorum would fare against Barack Obama is another matter. Can the man who lost his Senate seat in 2006 succeed where Gingrich et al have failed and stick around long enough to really challenge? Will the Tea Party rally around him or will the GOP accept that a politician with such extreme views is unlikely to win an election?

As many people have already observed today, the politican who will benefit most from the Iowa result may have spent Tuesday a long way from corn country. The President, who's super smart team will relish a drawn out Republican race, will be watching next Tuesday's New Hampshire primary with (amused) interest.