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Santorum Generates Talk Of White House Run
By Bradley Vasoli, The Bulletin
Sen. Rick Santorum has reportedly scheduled appearances with political nonprofit groups in Iowa on October 1, potentially signifying consideration of a presidential run.
The former senator, who served from 1995 to 2007 and who spent the four years prior in the House of Representatives, has directed his message to his party’s base. Iowa will be the first presidential nomination battleground in 2012, and its caucus system makes it beneficial for candidates to appeal to their party’s grassroots. Among the groups on the senator’s itinerary are Iowa Right to Life and the America’s Future Fund, a free-market advocacy group.
A confluence of factors “ mainly his close alliance with unpopular president George W. Bush “ sank Mr. Santorum’s reelection bid in 2006 against Democrat Bob Casey. The senator had gained a reputation over his 12 years in the senate as a conservative hardliner for his outspoken opposition to abortion and gay marriage. On economic policy, however, the senator was a moderate, having voted against the NAFTA trade pact and in favor of increasing the minimum wage.
Mr. Santorum remains a popular figure among the state GOP establishment.
“Senator Santorum remains a great friend of the [Pennsylvania] GOP and we would be excited to see a Republican from the Keystone state in the running for the White House,” Luke Bernstein, executive director of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, said in a statement. “Rick has been an incredibly strong voice for conservatives and his passion is sorely missed in the U.S. Senate. That being said, 2012 is a lifetime away and we remain focused on the critical 2009 elections.”
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
The former senator, who served from 1995 to 2007 and who spent the four years prior in the House of Representatives, has directed his message to his party’s base. Iowa will be the first presidential nomination battleground in 2012, and its caucus system makes it beneficial for candidates to appeal to their party’s grassroots. Among the groups on the senator’s itinerary are Iowa Right to Life and the America’s Future Fund, a free-market advocacy group.
A confluence of factors “ mainly his close alliance with unpopular president George W. Bush “ sank Mr. Santorum’s reelection bid in 2006 against Democrat Bob Casey. The senator had gained a reputation over his 12 years in the senate as a conservative hardliner for his outspoken opposition to abortion and gay marriage. On economic policy, however, the senator was a moderate, having voted against the NAFTA trade pact and in favor of increasing the minimum wage.
Mr. Santorum remains a popular figure among the state GOP establishment.
“Senator Santorum remains a great friend of the [Pennsylvania] GOP and we would be excited to see a Republican from the Keystone state in the running for the White House,” Luke Bernstein, executive director of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, said in a statement. “Rick has been an incredibly strong voice for conservatives and his passion is sorely missed in the U.S. Senate. That being said, 2012 is a lifetime away and we remain focused on the critical 2009 elections.”
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
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