Santorum has spent a lot of time in Iowa, and there are a lot of evangelical conservatives there. By the way, one big factor in his successful first race, for the Mt Lebanon House seat against Doug Walgren, was the time he spent going door to door.
But the mathematics are interesting. It appears that Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are running neck and neck, and likely will be one and two. If Romney wins Iowa and then wins New Hampshire, he might be invincible there after. If Paul wins Iowa, then the number three in Iowa becomes very much more important.
Then if Gingrich is number three, he might win some southern primaries, and it's not clear who the ultimate nominee is. But if Santorum is number three, then it is possible that Gingrich's campaign essentially ends there (as well as Perry's, Bachman's and Huntsman's). Santorum there after never wins any primaries and drops out after a couple of more, having fulfilled his role as spoiler.
It's too bad this election will be about myths of morality and economic fairy tales. The Republicans insure that we will not have a serious conversation on the economy. Every time Democrats raise serious questions, Republicans respond with fantasy gibberish, forcing Democrats down that same road. Too bad the Republicans have no spine.
In 2008, Mike Huckabee won the Iowa Republican caucus with 34% of vote. If Santorum looks strong and then tanks in the rest of the country, then the Iowan Republicans will have shot themselves in the foot and will be seen as the evangelical fringe voters and nothing more.
The Iowa Democrats, on the other hand, have launched a many successful runs, including Jimmy Carter and Barrack Obama, not that it matters this year.
Santorum has spent a lot of time in Iowa, and there are a lot of evangelical conservatives there. By the way, one big factor in his successful first race, for the Mt Lebanon House seat against Doug Walgren, was the time he spent going door to door.
ReplyDeleteBut the mathematics are interesting. It appears that Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are running neck and neck, and likely will be one and two. If Romney wins Iowa and then wins New Hampshire, he might be invincible there after. If Paul wins Iowa, then the number three in Iowa becomes very much more important.
Then if Gingrich is number three, he might win some southern primaries, and it's not clear who the ultimate nominee is. But if Santorum is number three, then it is possible that Gingrich's campaign essentially ends there (as well as Perry's, Bachman's and Huntsman's). Santorum there after never wins any primaries and drops out after a couple of more, having fulfilled his role as spoiler.
It's too bad this election will be about myths of morality and economic fairy tales. The Republicans insure that we will not have a serious conversation on the economy. Every time Democrats raise serious questions, Republicans respond with fantasy gibberish, forcing Democrats down that same road. Too bad the Republicans have no spine.
In 2008, Mike Huckabee won the Iowa Republican caucus with 34% of vote. If Santorum looks strong and then tanks in the rest of the country, then the Iowan Republicans will have shot themselves in the foot and will be seen as the evangelical fringe voters and nothing more.
ReplyDeleteThe Iowa Democrats, on the other hand, have launched a many successful runs, including Jimmy Carter and Barrack Obama, not that it matters this year.