Santorum Urges Michigan Voters To 'Shock the Country' [“We’ve Run A Moderate, We’ve Lost"]

The Hill ^ | February 25, 2012 | Jonathan Easley

[Steelfish]

Santorum Urges Michigan Voters To 'Shock the Country' By Jonathan Easley - 02/25/12

Rick Santorum unloaded on Mitt Romney at the Americans for Prosperity Forum in Michigan on Saturday, in an aggressive speech that earned him a standing ovation as he urged the crowd to “shock the country” by voting for the “complete conservative.”

Santorum had vaulted into the lead in national polls and in Michigan, following his surprising three-state caucus sweeps in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, but has faded after getting hammered at a debate in Arizona on Wednesday over his record as a senator.

Romney has since overtaken Santorum in most Michigan polls, although the race remains tight. “You have an opportunity here in Michigan to make this election about big things,” Santorum said. “You have an opportunity here in Michigan to shock the country.”

In urging voters to upending conventional wisdom, Santorum raised the stakes for Romney in a state where a Romney once served as governor. Santorum made clear that if Romney were to lose in Michigan, where Romney lived until he was 18, it would kill his “electability” argument and signal to the base that it’s safe vote for a conservative alternative.

“Every time we’ve run a moderate, we’ve lost. Every time we’ve run a conservative, a complete conservative … we’ve won,” Santorum said. “We won the 2010 elections because our people were excited about our candidates … not because we compromised.”

[SatinDoll]

“Romney’s a whole other level of bad.”

I agree.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Steelfish.

• Santorum on Obama Pushing College for All Americans: "What a Snob"
• Rick's Loose Lips
• Don't Pick Rick
• 2012 Arizona Republican Presidential Primary (Santorum surges to within 4; Romney lead cut to 39-35)
• Romney Campaign Deploys Surrogates to Santorum Events
• Gallup Daily: Santorum 31%, Romney 30%, Gingrich 16% (Santorum Collapsing, Ouch!)
• GALLUP DAILY: GOP Ballot Tracking (Santorum 31, Romney 30, Gingrich 16; End of the Santorum Surge?)
• What Would Rick Santorum's America Look Like?
• Does Romney really have a lead over Santorum in Michigan? (Short answer: No)
• Rick Santorum: I'm happy Arlen Spector isn't supporting me
• COLLUSION ADMITTED - Ron Paul Fingered, Attacking Gingrich & Santorum for Romney
• Campaigning Against the Modern World (longtime PA reporter outlines why Santorum is angry)
• Santorum Faring 8 Points Better Than Romney Among Independents In 'Core Four States'
• Mark Levin's No More Gotchas Interview With Rick Santorum [Says How He'll Attract Reagan-Democrats]
• Santorum's plan for first 100 days in office: cuts in taxes, regulations, spending and welfare
• Rush: America Likes Santorum
• Group: Santorum, Gingrich plans have big deficits
• Rick Santorum surging in new Alabama poll
• Santorum gets first non-home-state congressional endorsement
• Rick Santorum supporters make Kalamazoo-area stop in 'rolling billboard' bus
• Super PAC backing Santorum gets help from CA
• Santorum gets more good news in the Midwest
• Santorum Was Right About Iran --- When It Was Unpopular
• Santorum's views on the Earth is questionable (as is Chris Matthews' grammar)
• Santorum rips Ron Paul for Romney alliance, denies Specter's claim of no deal
• Santorum SuperPAC Seeks to Tie Romney and Gingrich to Obama
• Santorum: Romney's Attacks Are Laughable
• Michigan GOP Primary: Romney 40%, Santorum 34%
• Santorum SuperPAC Seeks to Tie Romney and Gingrich to Obama
• Santorum up by 4 in MI in ARG poll, rising among women nationally in WaPo/ABC
• Santorum Leads In Washington ["Gingrich's Continued Presence In The State Is A Boost To Romney"]
• Guess Who's Getting Antsy About Santorum...
• Santorum's Bogus Euthanasia Claims (and the irony of this becoming a zot thread)
• The Devil and Rick Santorum (National Review hit piece)
• Santorum up by 4 in MI in ARG poll, Update: Rasmussen shows Romney up by 6 in MI
• Santorum's Football Fumble and Other Stumbles from the Campaign Trail (Media in full suck mode))
• Democrats Are Praying for a Santorum Nomination
• Karen Santorum: Husband's surge 'is God's will'
• 5 Reasons to Support Rick Santorum
• Rick endorsed Specter / Sarah endorsed McLame. Now, can we move on? (Vanity)
• President Santorum Cabinet Dream Team!
• Santorum Endorsed Specter's Presidential Bid (1996)
• 'Thomas Paine vs George Washington': Santorum and Beck Part Ways on Libertarianism
• Rasmussen Virginia: Obama 51, Santorum 43
• Rick Santorum Winning More Support From Republican Women [Romney 61%, Santorum 57%, Gingrich 37%]
• Santorum lied. Spector said he did not promise to back Bush's Supreme Court picks for endorsement.
• Santorum: Obama wants to 'indoctrinate' students by boosting college enrollment
• Poll finds Santorum surging among Pa. voters
• Video of Ron Paul / Santorum "Aggressive" Handshake
• Poll: Pennsylvania's perking up for Rick Santorum; Update: Rick Within five of Newt in ... Georgia?
• Santorum gets super PAC backup in Ohio
• Ricky Ricardo Santorum..new video by massadvj/Victor Massad
• Santorum expected to make Indiana ballot
• Santorum aide: 'Why is Mormonism off-limits?' (Politico)
• 'Obama is NOT a Christian --- Why Won't Rev. Franklin Graham and Rick Santorum Admit it?'
• Romney Attacks Santorum for Supporting Roberts and Alito
• Santorum, Rice Excel in PJ Media Presidential Poll
• Santorum Ad Hits Romney With His Own Words
• Gallup Poll: Santorum Surge Due to Churchgoers, Midwesterners, Conservatives
• Rick's Cringe-Worthy Team Player Moment
• COURAGEOUS & Humble : My 2cents Worth of FREE Advice to Rick
• New Santorum ad hits Romney's record ... with Romney's own words
• Franklin & Marshall Pennsylvania 2012 Presidential Poll(Santorum 45, Romney 16)
• Georgia Primary: Gingrich 33%, Santorum 28%, Romney 20%, Paul 9% (Rasmussen)
• Gallup now shows both Romney, Santorum within MOE of Obama
• Forceful Santorum Fends Off Romney Attacks (Newsmax writer's take on Arizona debates)
• Does Santorum Look Like Woody from Toy Story?
• Santorum Mentioned Satan!!!!????
• In MICHIGAN: A Vote for Santorum = a vote for Santorum. A Vote for Santorum = a vote for Newt
• Rick's Loose Lips (Santorum's loose lips can sometimes turn convictions to controversy)
• Obama leads GOP challengers in Wisconsin poll; Santorum leads GOP field (WI)
• Running mates? Santorum campaign says Mitt Romney 'has done deal with Ron Paul'
• Lack of Skill and Composure Lead to Unsurprising Santorum Face-Plant in Crucial Phoenix Debate
• Santorum's Loose Lips Can Turn Convictions to Controversy
• COURAGE: Men and women of courage stand with Rick Santorum!
• Santorum campaign suggests Mitt Romney may have done deal to make Ron Paul his running mate
• Romney's $55 Million Negative Attack Machine Now Targets Santorum
• Rick's Religious Fanaticism
• Arizona GOP Debate: Santorum Slips, Newt Rallies, Romney Benefits
• Romney and Paul successfully call Santorum's conservatism into question
• Gov.Rick Perry: "Newt Is The Real Deal"
• Rick Perry spends his first day as Gingrich surrogate, argues Newt is only true conservative
• Santorum Opposes Civil Unions For Same-Sex Couples [Not In Best Interests of Society]
• Campaign for Ron Paul Fingered: Attacking Gingrich & Santorum for Romney
• Devil in the details: Santorum hardly alone in belief in Satan (7 of 10 Americans believe in Satan)
• Rick Perry pre-debate shot: Santorum's weak on states rights
• Rick Santorum Must NOT Be Our Nominee - And Here's Why...
• Rick Santorum, the Food Stamp Senator
• Team Santorum: America is with Rick on belief in the existence of the devil
• Santorum Stands by Satan Speech
• Gingrich taps Rick Perry on campaign trail in Arizona
• Rush takes dig at Drudge over Santorum 'Satan headline'
• Those who are critical of Rick Santorum for speaking of Satan are thereby criticizing the Church
• A Tennessee winner? Rick Santorum's making a run
• Why Did Santorum Lose in 2006? (The reasons are too complicated for a 30-second debate answer)
• 2012 Oklahoma Republican Primary (Santorum 43%, Romney 18%)
• Chris Christie: Rick Santorum's Satan Comments Are Relevant
• Palin: Media Getting "Wee-Weed Up" Over Santorum's Satan Remark (video)
• Santorum 'homophobic,' former Wyoming Senator says
• Rick's Religious Fanaticism (Maureen Dowd Calls Santorum a "Small-Town Mullah")
• Santorum: Drudge headline was a joke, absurd
• Santorum "homophobic," former Senator says
• Santorum Pressed on Satan Remarks (Media wants to make his 2008 speech an issue)
• Tied up in Michigan (Santorum slipping)
• Busted on Video: Romney Camp Takes Down Hundreds of Santorum Signs; Cops Watch
• Does Rick Santorum Have a Satan Problem?
• Rick Santorum Public Prayer #4
• Santorum slams media, gives defiant defense of campaign 'misstatements' (Drudge attack flops)
• Obama hits Santorum, Romney on deficit (Really?)
• Rick Santorum says Barack Obama is 'a rock star' ruling America like King George III

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Steelfish. All, the digest of Santorum titles through the beginning the 22nd was large, so you’ll have to take a look. :’)

[Randy Larsen]

Let’s try keeping this clean and remember, the goal is to vote Obama out of office, not tick-off other Republicans.

Truer words have NEVER been spoken!

Unfortunately SD, we republican'ts are to busy shooting each other in the back! FR has really gone down hill lately in spite of the hard work of the owners.

[CainConservative]

Quit shilling for Willard the Liberal.

[freemarketsfreeminds]

Amen. There have been Santorum people on threads here crying all day. Calling anyone that says anything negative about him religious bigots and haters, and accusing them of lying. These are the same people that were on here right around the South Carolina and Florida primaries spreading outright lies about Gingrich’s record, and his personal life.

I have issues with Rick’s record and the policies he proposes, and his positions regarding individualism. I also don’t think he has the fire to take it to the left, or can beat Obama. I have never denigrated him personally. I haven’t been personally attacked, but I’ve seen people being attacked. It’s hypocritical, and disgusting.

Flame away.

[Toespi]

As long as Santorum is the only one with the microphone and no one is asking him questions, he does ok. Somehow I get the impression he has one-liners written on his palms.

[Toespi]

Then how bout, “Tricky Ricky?”

[Mariner]

I'm not shilling for Romney, but you ARE shilling for Santorum the liberal. Liberal in nearly every category.

Like you, I suppose.

[Olog-hai]

---

Let’s try keeping this clean and remember, the goal is to vote Obama out of office

---

WADR, I thought the goal was to get a conservative into office, not another liberal; I’m not a party-over-ideology type. Getting the incumbent out is only half the battle, of course; even having the incumbent as a “disabled Anas platyrhynchos” may not be enough, but we do not want to vote in someone too much like the incumbent no matter the party label on the candidate.

[SatinDoll]

So you’re not a party-over-ideology type? Well, neither am I. But I recognize that this is no normal national election cycle.

Obama is evil, a Marxist-Leninist who supports infanticide and Global Social Justice (international communism) in the guise of Global Government centered in the UN. He is a Muslim or Christian whenever politically expedient.

It is vitally important that BHO2 be defeated for re-election come this November. I will vote for whoever Republicans nominate as our candidate.

[mongrel]

I didn’t call anyone names, just noting you might have been more even handed in your critique. Now you have. Thank you.

I have no problem with anyone cheering their candidates and gave no indication I was “ticked off” either. And after all of this moralizing about name-calling you’re telling me to “grow up”? My apologies for responding to you in the first place.

Our goal right now is to have a conservative Republican candidate for president. Newt and Rick are the closest we have and both have their flaws and I would support either one.

[SatinDoll]

Thank YOU for your kindly post.

I feel the same way about this election - it is very important to have a conservative Republican as President.

[altura]

Dingbat’s not so bad. I’ve been called worse. I agree with your sentiment and hope you will adhere to it yourself in the future.

[jellybean]

Let’s try keeping this clean and remember, the goal is to vote Obama out of office, not tick-off other Republicans.

Curious whether you give the same advice to the Gingrich supporters who call Santorum supporters names?

[Steelfish]

Correct. Never call anyone names even if we disagree. Thank you.

[livius]

I don’t like Santorum because he’s basically just a GWB compassionate conservative (meaning big-spending, weak and no hard answers to hard questions). I think he is unappealing personally because of his hectoring “Saint Rick” manner. Like it or not, he’s got a lot of issues that are going to chip into this image if the press decides to go for it.

Also, just as an aside, does anybody really want their sons to look like his? I only say this because he keeps parading them. They are an unfortunate group of slope-shouldered kids wearing sweater vests. I can’t believe he made them go out wearing those outfits.

[SatinDoll]

Yes. In the past two weeks I’ve had an epiphany of sorts.

We’re beating up on one another when we should be going after BHO2.

This last debate is what I use as an example. The lame stream media do not want their Obama attacked, rather the moderator tried to manipulate the four Republican debaters into attacking one another. Only one of the four refused to comply.

I suspect that the candidates addressing issues, even if the moderator didn’t intend for them to do so, would have made for a better debate with differences between candidates being highlighted.

[mongrel]

Santorum has a career scorecard from the National Taxpayers Union of 76% and Gingrich has one at 61%. Neither one is perfect, but Santorum hardly deserves the liberal label in fiscal categories.

[jellybean]

Like it or not, he’s got a lot of issues that are going to chip into this image if the press decides to go for it.

Can you tell me which of the candidates the press isn't going to go after once they're the nominee against Obama? Even if it's Romeny they're going to come out with all guns blazing. Like McCain, he'll be shell shocked because he didn't see it coming.

Do you think Gingrich will get a pass? What they did to him in the 90's to protect Clinton will be nothing compared to what they'll do to him to protect Obama.

How about Ron Paul? The media/democrats may be anti-military, anti-America and anti-semitic, but by the time they're done with Paul they'll look like the most patriotic, pro-military, pro-Israel people on the planet. They'll paint Paul as even loonier than he is.