WHAT Really HAPPENED In IOWA
January 4, 2012
Rick Santorum Endorsed Mitt Romney in 2008
WHO would have predicted the photo finish of Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in Iowa. What a remarkable ascent for Santorum.
How did the former Pennsylvania Senator move past Paul, Gingrich, Perry, and Bachmann, leaving them ALL in the dust?
Political observers are crediting Santorum’s march across the state in a pick-up truck. Insiders know that he was lifted up and brought to the finish line by conservative faith leaders and the “anyone but Romney” voters all across Iowa. That’s why Rick Perry didn’t do better. That’s only one reason why Newt Gingrich didn’t perform better. That’s why Michele Bachmann didn’t have a chance to gain traction in her native state. Santorum began to ascend just as Gingrich “descended”, and the former Speaker’s history became refreshed in the minds of voters.
Two Winners On The Same Night
In a way, Rick Santorum was the LAST pick of deep conservatives in Iowa and around the country. He wasn’t the choice of Iowa faith leaders until everyone else was eliminated. But Santorum was steady and committed, and there’s nothing like being in the right place at the right time.
Rick Santorum claims he spent only $125,000 or so in Iowa, but in the closing week, third parties supplemented his meager funds and put him on the radio. Some key endorsements by popular Iowa radio commentators helped him as well. Even so, Rick Santorum won the old-fashioned way, gathering the support of the ground, even if it was coordinated at the last minute. With the writing on the wall, Rick Santorum received the most precious blessing of all: the backing of the Evangelical majority of Iowa.
Precious Endorsements And Ground Help From Evangelical Leaders Made The Difference
Ron Paul, more independent than ever, made his own success and capitalized on four years of preparation, a passionate set of rebellious followers, and a war chest just big enough to put him in serious contention. Congressman Paul also deserves a tip of the hat for organizing an impressive ground team in Iowa. Paul understands his audience well and gives them exactly the message they want to hear.
Ron Paul DID Get Traction In Iowa
It’s a “half” message in a way, framing the problem, concentrating on “your freedoms and what you deserve” and lean on consequences and a plan. But in a year when voters are angrier than ever at politicians, Ron Paul is like a cool drink of water for the angriest of us.
On the money side of the race, big funders backed Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. Herman Cain pulled several million away from the broad GOP presidential field in October, leaving Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul to do it the hard way. They counted on the generosity of passionate followers.
Mitt Romney can savor his victory today because he faced a wall of opposition in Iowa, even though he was more known and more accepted than in 2008. Iowa is still considered to be 60% Evangelical, and Romney never had a prayer of receiving their votes. The expected and well-organized Get Out The Vote efforts of Family Leader and other faith groups, stole away Iowa voters who were concerned about their paychecks, but dared not oppose the guidance of their faith leaders. Romney cleaned up in the few, highly-populated counties of Iowa, and withstood last minute phone banking and ground teams dropped by the Democratic National Party to just eek out a win. But a win it was. Symbolic and uncertain until the end.
Apparently, after all was said and done, there were eight voters in Iowa who gave Romney the edge because they felt he could do the most damage to Barack Obama. Amazing.
Now...We'll Have A DEBATE.
Michele Bachmann now steps away with a higher national profile and respect for her great intelligence and strong principles. Rick Perry says he will skip New Hampshire and try again in South Carolina. After all, so much has been invested. Why leave it on the table at this point?
Newt Gingrich, who was a surprise contender from the start, leaves Iowa the most battered. He went in to Iowa with the debates giving him wind beneath his wings and promising kindness and only positive politics. He leaves, angry, ready to turn what ever ammunition he has on Mitt Romney, and apparently resolute in his desire to keep fighting.
Only Michele Bachmann is relinquishing her spot on the national stage, where the lights will flash on again this Saturday night in New Hampshire.
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These GOP candidates better get their act together. They need to spend more time talking about the damage obummer has done and what they are going to do to fix it and less time on tearing each other down. Voters don’t want a side show, they want a class act.
I think it was Mitty that was the SQEAKER!!! HOW much money did he spend and he STILL COULD NOT get more votes than he did 4 years ago . . . and in fact got LESS. That NOT a gain of support here.