Rick Santorum Florida Primary 2012 Outlook

Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum trails in the polls heading into Florida's primary election and is turning his attention to upcoming contests in other states.

The AP reports:

Santorum is the first Republican candidate to appear in Missouri in advance of its Feb. 7 primary, which will essentially be a statewide public opinion poll. The Republican Party plans to award its presidential delegates in Missouri through a series of caucuses that begin in mid-March. Gingrich didn't get on Missouri's primary ballot while others who have since dropped out of the race will be listed alongside Romney, Santorum and Ron Paul.

Santorum said he still considers Missouri's primary to be important. Because of Gingrich's absence, it could allow Santorum to test his political strength more directly against that of Romney, who has been building a network of prominent Republican endorsements in Missouri.

Denouncing "Gutter Politics"

The AP reports:

Santorum denounced the "gutter politics" of his opponents Monday as he turned his campaign away from a potentially futile effort in Florida in hopes of regaining momentum in the Midwest.

After spending what he described as a stressful weekend with his sick 3-year-old daughter, Santorum resumed his campaign at a suburban St. Louis community college -- assuring people that his daughter was improving and forecasting a political revival in swing states such as Missouri. He was to appear later Monday at a campaign event in Minnesota, which also is holding its caucuses next week.

The Polls

HuffPost's Mark Blumenthal reports:

Six new polls released late Sunday or Monday found that Mitt Romney's lead over Newt Gingrich ranges from five to 20 percentage points.

Some of the largest margins came from four polls that reached voters over both landline and mobile phones, including three surveys released on Monday.

...

Voter uncertainty, a hallmark of the Republican primary campaign for months, remains a potential factor in the outcome of the Florida contest. The latest Quinnipiac survey finds that more than a quarter of the likely Republican primary voters in that state either are completely undecided (7 percent) or say they might still change their minds about the candidate they are supporting (24 percent of those with a preference).

Florida election officials reported on Monday that 591,666 votes had already been cast in early and absentee voting, a number that would represent roughly 30 percent of the votes cast in the state's 2008 Republican primary. Needless to say, those who have already cast ballots can no longer change their minds.

Check out the slideshow below for more on the Santorum campaign.

 

 

Comments

[PublicCitizen21044]

04:12 PM on 02/06/2012

I just read on Think Progress that Rick Santorum told a sick boy and his mother that they should stop complaining about the high cost (1 million dollars) of the medication for her son and his response was that if people can afford an $900 iPad they can afford medication and the medical companies are under no obligation to make their medicines affordable as it costs them so much to create them and they are entitled to charge whatever the market will bear. Wow, i knew the Bella miracle was a ruse because one could not have dodged a bullet regarding his daughter just a week or so ago and than look another parent in the eye and state that they do not care if their child gets the medicine he needs to live a normal life. Hey Rick who is your god?

[BeautifulWorld]

04:29 PM on 01/31/2012

The Truth About Rick Santorum

http://teapartyorg.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-truth-about-rick-santorum-will-so-called-conservatives-ever?xg_source=activity

[chance1946]

01:29 PM on 01/31/2012

THE ELECTION IS OVER. THE OBAMA ADMISTRATION TOLD THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THEY MUST PREFORM ABORTIONS NEXT YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC HOSPITALS.

During church services on Sunday, Catholics around the country were read a blistering letter assailing the Obama administration for an "assault on religious liberty" in the form of a coming requirement that most church-linked organizations - among them hospitals, schools and universities - offer birth control coverage as part of their health care plans.


Despite strong lobbying from religious groups, the Health and Human Services Department announced earlier this month that most church-linked groups will not be exempt from the requirements - which also mandate that no co-pay be charged for contraceptive services - though they will have an extra year to comply beyond the August 1 deadline. Churches themselves (along with any other employer that is explicitly focused on offering a religious message, and which primarily employs those who believe in that message) are exempt from the requirement.

[CraigVale]

09:29 AM on 02/01/2012

What you never hear of is the choice that these religious institutions have before them. If they are so indignant that they feel put upon by the government to comply with the law, then just stop taking taxpayer funds or get rid of their tax exemption. Then they can do pretty much what they please with thier own money ! If they feel so morally bound to an issue then quit moaning and quit the tax break. What a bunch of phony moralists !

[almedoz]

12:15 PM on 01/31/2012

John Edwards did not score any positive points by continuing to campaign while his wife was ill, and Santorum won't either. Ricky, go home and spend time with your sick daughter, and the rest of the passel of kids you've brought into this world. You remember, the ones you schooled privately in Virginia but made the PA taxpayers pay for the pricey tuition.

[PWM]

11:42 AM on 01/31/2012

Here Rick says he wants a war with China:
“I don’t want to go to a trade war, I want to beat China. I want to go to war with China and make America the most attractive place in the world to do business.”

Here Rick threatens the Russian Federation:
“I think we should send a very clear message that if you are scientist from Russia or North Korea or from Iran, and you are going to work on a nuclear program to develop a nuclear bomb for Iran, you are not safe.”

Here Rick threatens Iran:
“I would be saying to the Iranians, you either open those facilities, begin to dismantle them and make them available to inspectors or we will degrade those facilities though air strikes. And make it very public that we are doing that. Iran would not get a nuclear weapon under my watch.”

[PWM]

11:41 AM on 01/31/2012

Here Rick wants people to suffer:
"Suffering, if you’re a Christian, suffering is a part of life. And it’s not a bad thing, it is an essential thing in life … There are all different ways to suffer. One way to suffer is through lack of food and shelter and there’s another way to suffer which is lack of dignity and hope and there’s all sorts of ways that people suffer and it’s not just tangible, it’s also intangible and we have to consider both."

[PWM]

11:41 AM on 01/31/2012

Here Rick believes the state can limit one's pursuit of happiness:
"The idea is that the state doesn’t have rights to limit individuals’ wants and passions. I disagree with that. I think we absolutely have rights because there are consequences to letting people live out whatever wants or passions they desire."

[PWM]

11:39 AM on 01/31/2012

Here Rick doesn't believe people have a right to consensual sex or privacy:
"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything. Does that undermine the fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it does. It all comes from, I would argue, this right to privacy that doesn’t exist in my opinion in the United States Constitution."

[p-junkie]

11:27 AM on 01/31/2012

[Santorum denounced the "gutter politics" of his opponents Monday as he turned his campaign away from a potentially futile effort in Florida in hopes of regaining momentum in the Midwest. ]

Well, I doubt Santorum would be denouncing 'gutter politics' if he were the one benefiting from it in the polls.

[wsaintpat]

12:44 PM on 01/31/2012

notice that, even in the face of low poll numbers, he hasn't and won't stoop to the "gutter politics" and mudslinging. He's made of better stuff than that. That's the kind of man (or woman) we need in the White House. I also believe he would go to his knees in prayer for this country when needed, as our founding fathers did.

[Truth-Bearer]

11:08 AM on 01/31/2012

Rick Santorum has a heart of Gold and a backbone of steel. He has a consistent track-record of standing for what is right. He authored the bill to end partial-birth abortion, worked it through the Senate and House and President Clinton signed it. Whereas Gov. Mitt Romney created a socialized medicine program in MA which included a provision where any pregnant woman can get an abortion for a $50 copay, and the taxpayers pay for the rest. He has not apologized for this policy, and women are still getting $50 abortions under his policy today.

[helmcc814]

11:30 AM on 01/31/2012

He hardly has a heart of gold. He does have a closed mind and an" I got mine the hell with you attitude".

[almedoz]

12:10 PM on 01/31/2012

If he's so gosh-darned wonderful, then why did the people of Pennsylvania vote him out of the Senate?

[Not2Normal]

10:41 AM on 01/31/2012

"man on dog" wasn't gutter politics?? Santorum deserves his last name definition.

[Jacquie Hamilton]

10:35 AM on 01/31/2012

The handwriting is on the wall Rick. Go home and stay this time.

[den1953]

10:15 AM on 01/31/2012

Rick Santorum still looking for that government job one way or the other,it might serve him well if he auditions for the 700 club and leave the politics to the king makers just isn't your turn Ricky!

[isay2]

10:14 AM on 01/31/2012

Romney and Newt are taking each other down and Rick will beat Obama!

[deebastet]

10:17 AM on 01/31/2012

Sorry to tell you, Rick Perry dropped out.

[pakaal]

11:03 AM on 01/31/2012

I think we may possibly have one of those "low information" voters on the line here.

[cwilson9619]

10:18 AM on 01/31/2012

That can only be sarcasm.

[RonP58]

10:12 AM on 01/31/2012

Just because you don't "roll in the mud" with them, doesn't mean your ideology and stance on most issues aren't OFFENSIVE......

You're an "offensive" candidate, Mr. Sani-torium......you're just more subtle about it...