I am less concerned with Santorum supporters than Rove’s cynical abuse of the social conservative voting base over the past decade. He propped up Bush in 2004 and several Senate races with all of the marriage amendments and social issue votes to drive turnout. Yes, it worked politically, but it shows that to these political elites, we are all just pawns to get their outcome.
In this primary race, it was relatively clear Romney was a poor option, but also pretty clear there was not a better one out there. I supported Newt, but to think he would have done any better with the fundamentals in this is wishful thinking. He had a major gender gap even among GOP primary voters. It would have been tough with the rest of the voters. As brilliant as Gingrich is, he would have been a tough sell in the general. There just wasn’t a better option in the field. Perry was our only hope. Amazingly, if Huntsman wasn’t such a shlep and ran as a conservative, he probably could have run and won the whole thing. he had a great fiscal record. He’s a major league loser, though.
You are correct. Romney gave us the best chance to win, and he came close. Did a lot of things right (e.g. Ryan), did some things wrong (e.g., not enough specifics on his five-point plan). Overall, ran a fairly decent campaign, could have been stronger, coasted too much toward the end.
>>As brilliant as Gingrich is, he would have been a tough sell in the general.
Newt and Cain both have an ability to go around the media that might have won the day in the general. Romney has never shown any such ability.