I’m Calling It For Santorum
Know why? Because we’ve seen this scene before. My guess is that Santorum will be the 2016 Republican nominee. He was first runner-up in 2012, so… it’s his turn. Rand Paul will take over his father’s role and act as spoiler. His Libertarian supporters will be rabid, as usual, and the Evangelical community won’t trust him. Meanwhile, the “business and money” side of the GOP will once again run a Jon Huntsman and lose quickly.
Which means… the nomination is Santorum’s. And I think it will be an easy win, mainly due to the make-up of the Republican primary voter. These voters are incapable of seeing past a primary to the general, and when you consider how many moderate Republicans have left the party then you understand who will pick the nominee.
The Republican’s base motto of “He’s not Conservative Enough” will finally be tested. And I’ll remind you that while most Americans were appalled by Christine O’Donnell, Sharon Angle, Richard Mourdock, etc., Conservatives weren’t, and still aren’t, appalled. In Conservative Land, these candidates’ losses were the fault of RINOs. It wasn’t the messenger. It wasn’t the message. It was an act of betrayal. And they have spent the last 4 years purging the traitors. Which leaves us with… the Republican Primary Voter.
So, yeah… I’m calling it for Santorum.
Tags: 2016 Presidential Election, Republican Crazy, Rick Santorum
Could be. I’m postulating the weaker they perceive Dems to be, the wingnuttier the GOP nominee will be. Although they have no shortage of crazy.
Actually, Puck, I disagree. The stronger the Dem nominee, the crazier the GOP nominee for the GOP Establishment will figure that there is no way we beat the Dem, so we might as well get the crazies their turn so we can shove it in their face when they lose. If Hillary runs, Santorum or Paul or Cruz will be the nominee. If it is Biden or O’Malley or Cuomo or some other non-Hillary candidate, then we might see Christie, Rubio or Huntsman (though I still think Christie and Huntsman have no shot at the nomination no matter the circumstance).
“though I still think Christie and Huntsman have no shot at the nomination no matter the circumstance”
Agreed.
I think that Christie gets the nod. He gets support from the centrists for his willingness to side with Obama and support from the crazies for his willingness to yell incoherently at detractors.
And it may be the last shot that Huckabee has at the Presidency, so I won’t count him out either. He has been cultivating a little garden of evangelicals that would eat into Santorum’s presumed base. If Huckabee runs, Santorum doesn’t make it past New Hampshire.
I agree with LG. Christie is running hard for it, and I think the base is hungry enough for a win that they might say “I don’t agree with him on everything, but he looks like he could actually win.” GOP internal wedge issues, abortion and gay marriage ) are more or less off the table, and they are united in thier hatred for Obama & Clinton.
Santorum in a debate with anyone will be absolute gold. Although if the GOP is serious about winning a presidency then they have no choice but Christie. Huckabee, Huntsman and Paul can’t win it.
I don’t think Christie gets the nod. There are many right wing nuts that will vote in the primary. Plus, can you imagine them nominating someone who hugged Obama? Who would want to shake his hand after that, even if he washed them? Plus, I am fairly certain he spends more time reading menus and not the bible and I pretty sure he said something about global warming or evolution which is an automatical disqualifier.
Huntsman doesn’t get the nod either. He is a Morman who sent his kids to Catholic school. Might even be a closet Papist and he actually runs a business that actually produces things other than money.
Santorum is a Catholic, but really he is more evangelical and would have fit in quite nicely leading the Spanish Inquisition. I would bet on Santorum. Folks like Christie and Hunstman would rather make their mark getting things done. The do-nothing party will never nominate someone who might actually want to do something.
As far as the Canadian Cruz, I’m gonna have to see a birth certificate first.
Rmoney was supposed to be the “compromise” candidate the last round and it is going to be tough to sell the GOP base on more compromises. I think that the evangelicals especially are pissed that no one is paying attention to them, so Huckabee really might be the guy. I am amused by the current Paul narrative that somehow he is supposed to be some maverick libertarian, when he isn’t much more than a run-of-the-mill wingnut.
I think Huckabee is a real threat to win – and also dont count out Chris Christie. A lot of candidates who didnt see a way to beat Obama may throw their hats in for 2016. A lot of traditionally Red/Purple states that Obama has won (Florida, Virginia, Nevada, Ohio, Colorado) may be in play for 2016 if the Democrats cant figure out how to get black and latino turnout up to where it was with Obama. I think it will be hard to match the numbers Obama put up unless you run an equally historically significant candidate i.e. Hillary.
Don’t forget Jeb Bush or Mark Rubio to pick up the Spanish vote. I also agree that Chris Christie and Huckabee are strong contenders. Since this will be 2-years after Gastric LapBand surgery-no more weight jokes….hopefully.