Rick Santorum officially running for President

[BatmanVSuperman]

Rick Santorum also, officially not going to be President

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...santorum-is-running-again/?wprss=rss_homepage

 

[Thundercrack85]

So, for those wondering, we have:

Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio, Mike Hucakbee, and now Rick Santorum running.

Jeb Bush is almost certainly running, and Rick Perry is set to make his announcement.

But there's still a few likely candidates, like Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, and Chris Christie.

There's always room for one more in the clown car.

 

[Schlosser85]

God save us.

 

[Mad Ones]

Can... can I make this joke...?

Spoiler

This is news to me. My santorum has been running for months.

 

[hippie_hunter]

So, for those wondering, we have:

Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio, Mike Hucakbee, and now Rick Santorum running.

Jeb Bush is almost certainly running, and Rick Perry is set to make his announcement.

But there's still a few likely candidates, like Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, and Chris Christie.

There's always room for one more in the clown car.

With Perry running, I would be surprised to see Jindal running. It also wouldn't surprise me if Chris Christie woke up and smelled the coffee. His best chance was in 2012 and he passed on it. You're also forgetting that George Pataki is also very likely to run.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Chris Christie may have some baggage with that bridge, but compared to these clowns he might actually have a real shot.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Chris Christie may have some baggage with that bridge, but compared to these clowns he might actually have a real shot.

The bridge issue isn't the problem, Christie's problem is that Jeb Bush is soaking up all of his support. Even in New Jersey, Bush has been actively targeting Christie's donor and political base. It's the same reason why I find a Pataki run to be absurd as well.

In my opinion, the only viable GOP candidates are Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Scott Walker, Rick Santorum, and Marco Rubio. Say what you may about their politics, but these are the ones IMO are the only ones who have a shot at getting the nomination. Everyone else: Christie, Pataki, Cruz, Fiorina, Huckabee, Carson, Graham, Perry, Jindal, Kasich, and Trump are just wasting our time.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

Bush and maybe Rubio have a shot. I think that Paul lacks support from republicans and Santorum is just... polarizing. I don't see them steamrolling through a possibility of nomination. Of course stranger things have happened.

 

[Schlosser85]

The idea of President Santorum or President Huckabee is extremely disturbing.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think half these guys are trying to sell book and maybe get a show on Fox News.

 

[Schlosser85]

Doesn't Huckabee practically live there anyway?

 

[SV Fan]

The bridge issue isn't the problem, Christie's problem is that Jeb Bush is soaking up all of his support. Even in New Jersey, Bush has been actively targeting Christie's donor and political base.

My guess is Christie will stay in hoping Jeb falls flat on his face and he can pick up the pieces. My guess is Christie will wait to New Hampshire primary to decide whether he stay in the race or drop out.

In my opinion, the only viable GOP candidates are Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Scott Walker, Rick Santorum, and Marco Rubio.

I don't think Santorum will even win social conservatives much less be top 5. All candidates like Santorum, Huckabee and Cruz do is take votes away from Scott Walker and a lesser extent Rubio and help Jeb in the process.

 

[Octoberist]

Santorum..does have a cool last name. I'll give him that.

 

[Marvolo]

I think half these guys are trying to sell book and maybe get a show on Fox News.

That's all it is. Publicity. The GOP would do well to clamp down on this, and stop allowing all these people to run under the GOP label.

The more candidates they have the more likely someone says something incredibly stupid which in turn hurts the PR of the GOP.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I don't think Santorum will even win social conservatives much less be top 5. All candidates like Santorum, Huckabee and Cruz do is take votes away from Scott Walker and a lesser extent Rubio and help Jeb in the process.

You're really underestimating Santorum's skills as a candidate. While I do think that Jeb will be helped by the massive increase in clown car candidates that splits the Tea Party vote, Santorum is the best shot at being a viable clown car candidate. There's a reason why he did so well in 2012.

 

[NYR94]

Santorum should stop right now and not waste any of his time or other people's money--he has ZERO shot at the nomination. Same goes for Perry, Christie, Trump, Huckabee, Bush or Paul. The nominee will be Walker or Rubio, or a combination of the two with one's name either above or under the other.

 

[SV Fan]

Santorum should stop right now and not waste any of his time or other people's money--he has ZERO shot at the nomination. Same goes for Perry, Christie, Trump, Huckabee, Bush or Paul. The nominee will be Walker or Rubio, or a combination of the two with one's name either above or under the other.

Trump is just doing this for the publicity then will come up with an excuse why he not running at the last minute. As for the others, I still think Jeb wins(money talks). As thunder pointed out above I think alot are in the race to increase book sales and speaking fees(lots of cash to be made in the Republican Entertainment Complex).

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

Santorum should stop right now and not waste any of his time or other people's money--he has ZERO shot at the nomination. Same goes for Perry, Christie, Trump, Huckabee, Bush or Paul. The nominee will be Walker or Rubio, or a combination of the two with one's name either above or under the other.

Bush may well become the frontrunner. Walker - not likely to be a plausible candidate outside of his constituency.

 

[Matt]

I dunno about that. If Walker can raise money, he is probably the most viable candidate for the Republicans (next to Rubio who is probably the biggest threat to Clinton...but I think Walker plays better in the primary).

 

[Dasher10]

If Rick Santorum becomes President, I'm moving to Australia.

This is the man who had not one but two overtly racist speeches during the 2012 campaign, one of which involved dropping the N bomb to describe the President of the United States.

He compared homosexuality to bestiality while standing up for anti-sodomy laws.

He wants to ban contraception without recognizing that not every American is a rich trial lawyer who can afford seven children.

He attempted to force teaching creationism in our public schools.

He insulted the entire people of Illinois while on a televised interview.

I don't care who you vote for, as long as it isn't Rick Santorum. He'd run America into the ground.

 

[NYR94]

If Rick Santorum becomes President, I'm moving to Australia.

.

No you won't...

 

[Thundercrack85]

With Perry running, I would be surprised to see Jindal running. It also wouldn't surprise me if Chris Christie woke up and smelled the coffee. His best chance was in 2012 and he passed on it. You're also forgetting that George Pataki is also very likely to run.

I think he heard you.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Rubio is a lightweight. I almost forgot he was running. The media is obsessed with Jeb Bush. Walker has a shot.

Pataki, I don't know. Too moderate for the base of the party.

 

[SV Fan]

I'll give Santorum credit, he came out against the Duggars today. Huckabee can take a few lessons

Walker has a shot

Walker will get eaten alive in a national election. He has many skeletons in his closet. Koch money in a low turnout election can only take you so far

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'll give Santorum credit, he came out against the Duggars today. Huckabee can take a few lessons

Santorum is a great campaigner. While he isn't a viable candidate for the general election, the man is still a great campaigner who has an excellent ability to reach out to people who are willing to listen to him. Many candidates, Hillary included, could learn a thing or two from him.

Walker will get eaten alive in a national election. He has many skeletons in his closet. Koch money in a low turnout election can only take you so far

I think Walker would be very viable if Hillary Clinton were not his opponent. I think Clinton would crush him, but I think he has great potential on the national stage with a weaker Democrat.