Santormentum? Rick Santorum Surges In Iowa

by James Crugnale | 5:56 pm, December 28th, 2011

» 18 comments

A new CNN poll has Rick Santorum roaring back back from the bottom of the GOP pack to 16% in Iowa. Virtually everyone in the Republican field has had their moment in the sun, except for the former Pennsylvania Senator, until today.

In CNN’s new poll, Mitt Romney is the new frontrunner at 25%, Ron Paul is at 22% and out-of-nowhere, Santorum has leapfrogged to third at 16%.

CNN political writer Paul Steinhauser notes that “Santorum is campaigning on a shoestring budget, but he’s visited all of Iowa’s 99 counties and has made a strong pitch towards social conservative voters.”

He adds:

“Most of Santorum’s gains have come among likely caucus participants who are born-again or evangelical, and he now tops the list among that crucial voting bloc, with support from 22% of born-agains compared to 18% for Paul, 16% for Romney, and 14% for Gingrich,” according to CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

Red State’s Ed Erickson is not happy by this new development:

Santorum has no money or organization outside of Iowa and cannot win the nomination, but Iowans love a guy who sucks up to them and makes sure they know he loves the babies.

As a pro-lifer myself, I have to throw up a bit in my mouth that Iowa conservatives are seriously considering Rick Santorum, which will only help Mitt Romney, a guy who even after his supposedly heartfelt conversion to life put some seriously pro-abortion judges on the Massachusetts bench hiding behind the “Well it was Massachusetts for Pete’s sake” defense…

Rick Santorum is more conservative than Mitt Romney. He is a strong social conservative and has taken a lot of bullets from the left because of his stand. But he is not as strong a fiscal conservative as he claims and the real issue here is social conservatives in Iowa risk Mitt Romney’s election by supporting a guy who cannot get traction or money outside of Iowa.

Rick Santorum will not be the nominee. That’s the reality. But his rise hurts Bachmann, Gingrich, and Perry in Iowa — all of whom have better organizations and better shots beyond Iowa.

Santorum’s recent success also drew Meghan McCain‘s attention:

(h/t CNN)

Iowa, polling, Polls, Rick Santorum

Anonymous

Sorry James, but this poll has already been debunked. HotAir uses both the Washington Post and Erickson:

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/12/28/cnn-iowa-poll-romney-25-paul-22-santorum-16-gingrich-14/
Charles Ulysses Feney

The same Rick Santorum who sponsored Penn State serial pederast Jerry Sandusky for a Congressional “Angel of Adoption” award at a time when Sanduski, the national defensive coach of the year, couldn’t get a coaching offer because of a national whisper campaign regarding his fascination with little boy’s bottoms!

Santorum / Sanduski 2012
No Child’s Behind Left Undone!
Anonymous

Rick’s got the froth at his back!
Anonymous

Gross!
sweetdog

No Child’s Behind Left Undone!

Oh, that’s wrong. But funny!
Anonymous

True, the Santorum situation is still fluid.
WiddleBabyDanielson

SANTORUM SURGE.

Gross.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_45S32GWGDRUJIL6E2U4HOZW4BM Bob

Santorum surge?
As frothy as it is gross.
Anonymous

The Teapublcians believe they have exclusive rights to God, they belong in jail so they won’t hurt anyone.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1190134026 Barry Dalton

“Santorum has no money or organization outside of Iowa and cannot win the nomination, but Iowans love a guy who sucks up to them and makes sure they know he loves the babies.
As a pro-lifer myself, I have to throw up a bit in my mouth that Iowa conservatives are seriously considering Rick Santorum…”

Love this quote.

But if it’s true WHY has Santorum been included in the debates?

The media is so worried about offending the Christian right, they don’t do their jobs.

Just like they were so worried about the rightwing neocons that they didn’t do their jobs in regards to Iraq.

And they are so afraid of the rightwing kooks (libertarians) that they won’t properly vet Ron Paul either.

There’s no Lib bias in the media…it’s just a bunch of stupid people with their hands on the press and the network tv cameras.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1190134026 Barry Dalton

The Tea Party is just social conservatives playing dress up.
Reuben Andreessen

I support Rick Santorum for President. He has a solid record as U.S. Senator. His sponsored and pushed through the Welfare Reform Act reducing the amount of people receiving welfare in half.
Anonymous

Rick Santorum has the passion and integrity to be as great a President as George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. Iowa people know a great leader when they see one, and Rick Santorum has built relationships, not hype, throughout the state over many weeks. He supports Judeo-Christian family values and loves America. Rick Santorum for President in 2012!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Shirley-Freeman/1680934935 Shirley Freeman

The quote you love isn’t accurate: Santorum does have organization outside of Iowa. Yes, his funds have been low, but they will pick up now. I understand your concerns, however: SANTORUM IS THE ‘WON’T QUIT TIL THE JOB’S DONE’ leader…He got the Ban on the heinous Partial-Birth Abortion procedure after 8 yrs of struggle against 2 Presidential vetoes and an adverse Supreme Court ruling–It is now the unchallenged law of the land under his leadership. He wrote and floor-managed the Welfare Reform Act through the Senate. His strong, steady leadership as 3rd in the Senate Republican organization (Chair of the Senate Republilcan Conference) made him the ‘go-to’ guy for fellow Republican Senators with new initiatives. His colleagues were lined up to get his assistance for their new proposals. His great skill and expertise in crafting laws is reflected in his MadeInAmerica Plan to create jobs, strengthen our families, and get our economy going again. SANTORUM’S PLAN WILL CREATE THE MOST GOOD-PAYING JOBS! His plan is the only one with the ‘grit & guts’ to go ‘all out’ to create both manufacturing and energy jobs, which will provide good incomes to support their families for those without college degrees, the largest group experiencing high unemployment.
Anonymous

Those hay-shakers just blow back & forth with the wind.
Henry Wood

Wave of Santorum surges across Iowa.

http://www.dafk.net/what/
Anonymous

Your wrong Rick will never be a good president like George Washington or Abe as well. Iowa is big fat joke they shouldn’t have any say until later since they never get it right ever which is 100% fact. Rick Santorum is far-right wingnut.
Anonymous

Iowa is a big fat joke it show itself when Ron Paul was leading in Iowa and if Rick Santorum wins Iowa that is the only state he wins he’s done put fork in Rick Far-Right Santorum extremist.