Romney Yet To Convince Conservative Voters
Published in Volkskrant
(Netherlands) on 8 February 2012
by Jeroen Visser (link to original)
The victory of Republican Sen. Rick Santorum in the primaries in the conservative states Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri mainly shows that front-runner Mitt Romney has difficulty convincing conservative voters.
Yesterday, Santorum won convincingly in three different states. The results are surprising because Mitt Romney had a good lead in the polls this past weekend. In his speeches, a self-assured Romney aimed his arrows again at current President Barack Obama, instead of his Republican opponents, to demonstrate that he is the only real presidential candidate.
The main conservative voters in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri clearly thought differently about that and chose Santorum as their candidate for the White House. Throughout his campaign, Santorum sets himself up as the conservative conscience of the Republicans. He is fiercely against abortion and gay marriage. Also, he regularly states that global warming is a myth.
His main rival Romney is a lot more moderate. Santorum therefore accuses him of resembling Obama too much and that later in the White House, he would not meet the wishes of the Republican voters. This tactic works with the conservative voters who want nothing more than for Obama to be thrown off of his throne. Santorum responded blissfully on his victory. “Conservatism lives,” he cheered in front of supporters in Missouri.
Division
The victory of the conservative Santorum shows once more the division within the Republican Party. Many voters especially want a presidential candidate who has the best chance to defeat Obama. The party committee has put its money on Romney, who can appeal to the middle class with his somewhat moderate opinions. However, the party also has a large right-wing base from which the conservative tea party movement sprang. For now, voters from that corner do not seem to be willing to moderate their demands.
Santorum has now gained the upper hand in four states. He also won the very first primary in Iowa, after a neck-and-neck race with Romney. And Newt Gingrich, who hardly did any campaigning in the past few days because he thought he didn't have chance, unexpectedly dragged a victory out of the fire in South Carolina.
Romney will now set all his sights on March 6. Then it is “Super Tuesday,” and primaries will be held in 10 states. The candidate who peaks that day has a very good chance of pulling in the nomination.
Yesterday, Santorum won convincingly in three different states. The results are surprising because Mitt Romney had a good lead in the polls this past weekend. In his speeches, a self-assured Romney aimed his arrows again at current President Barack Obama, instead of his Republican opponents, to demonstrate that he is the only real presidential candidate.
The main conservative voters in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri clearly thought differently about that and chose Santorum as their candidate for the White House. Throughout his campaign, Santorum sets himself up as the conservative conscience of the Republicans. He is fiercely against abortion and gay marriage. Also, he regularly states that global warming is a myth.
His main rival Romney is a lot more moderate. Santorum therefore accuses him of resembling Obama too much and that later in the White House, he would not meet the wishes of the Republican voters. This tactic works with the conservative voters who want nothing more than for Obama to be thrown off of his throne. Santorum responded blissfully on his victory. “Conservatism lives,” he cheered in front of supporters in Missouri.
Division
The victory of the conservative Santorum shows once more the division within the Republican Party. Many voters especially want a presidential candidate who has the best chance to defeat Obama. The party committee has put its money on Romney, who can appeal to the middle class with his somewhat moderate opinions. However, the party also has a large right-wing base from which the conservative tea party movement sprang. For now, voters from that corner do not seem to be willing to moderate their demands.
Santorum has now gained the upper hand in four states. He also won the very first primary in Iowa, after a neck-and-neck race with Romney. And Newt Gingrich, who hardly did any campaigning in the past few days because he thought he didn't have chance, unexpectedly dragged a victory out of the fire in South Carolina.
Romney will now set all his sights on March 6. Then it is “Super Tuesday,” and primaries will be held in 10 states. The candidate who peaks that day has a very good chance of pulling in the nomination.