Talk Elections

GOP Sen. Santorum rules out 2008 bid

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. Rick Santorum said Monday he has no intention to seek the presidency in 2008.

The Pennsylvania conservative, who recently wrote a book titled "It Takes a Family," said he couldn't imagine putting his family through another campaign after his re-election bid in 2006. Recent state polls show Democrat Bob Casey Jr. leading the two-term incumbent.

"I have six children ages 4-14. And the idea of coming off a race of the intensity that I am engaged in at this point and turning around and running another two-year campaign for president is not something that I believe is in the best interest of my family," Santorum said in an online interview with The Washington Post.

link (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apelection_story.asp?category=1131&slug=Santorum%202008)

He wants to be President and everyone knows it. He might change his mind but if he plans to stick to this pledge, look for him to run in 2012 (if the Dems win in '08) or 2016.

Yay!! WOOOO!!!!

*throws confetti* lol :D

He wouldn't stand a chance anyways.

Why are liberals rejoicing over him not running? I thought you wanted it so you could crush him?

While I am obviously very saddened by this news, it gives me more strength to work to see him re-elected to the Senate.

...or more likely, santorum may be selling insurance in 2012 or 16.

Santorum will be a lobbyist by 2008.

If he wins in 2006, all the idiots on this forum that got on my case will never hear the end. He pulled off upsets before when the Dems thought they finished him off. He can do it again.

I agree with you, Phil.  I like Rick, he seems to be a sound Senator and seems to stay above the political fray that besets so many politicians of all levels.  I wish he would run for President, because he would most likely get my vote.  I can't say he definitely would because I would have to look at the Democrat's candidate, but "most likely" is an accurate assessment.  However, I have to applaud him for wanting to put his family first.  That tells me he stands behind his book and puts his family above his constituents.  Whatever Rick is doing in January 2007, he will be very successful at it, and I wish him and his family well.

Idiots? That's rather unneccessary and adds nothing to the debate.

And what you did added nothing to the debate either.

or did it? ???

phil, ive always predicted a victory for santorum next year.

he will win 52-47, or thereabouts.

but i dont think he will ever be president.

Unfortunatley, that looks to be the case now.

The point about never letting people hear the end of a Santorum victory (if it happens) is because they have so much hate for the man and I despise seeing them act the way they do.

I must eco Phil in that I do find it interesting that Democrats go on about how Santorum would be crushed if he ran, but are beside themselves with joy to see him out.

I hate him, but I think he'll win his reelection bid.

Out of all the right wingers, I'd say he has the best chance of winning a national election. He may very well beat someone like Hillary or Kerry, but wouldn't have much chance against vs someone like Fiengold/Warner/Vilsack ect.

I wouldn't rule him out of appearing in the primaries in 2008 and testing the waters. I still think if he genuinely believes the nomination is his for the taking, he'll grab it. For all we know, this may be a ploy on his part to 1)divert attention(almost sure to be nagative) away from him and 2)come off looking good as "the family man" type.

I'm sure we haven't heard the last from that "idiot."

This isn't really surprising, and I don't blame him for wanting to do something other than campaign for 4 straight years.

Then you really don't know the situation. He wants to be President. For people that follow this, it is more surprising than you think.



I don't think we've heard the last from you either.

yeah, that sounds rather exhausting. plus it would hurt his fundraising because alot o people would have just given to the campaign, and probably wouldnt want to turn around and have to give more.

Not surprising for 2008. Once we learned he would face Casey, and thus a tough re-election battle, it would be unrealistic to expect him to jump to Presidential campaigning the day after he won, which he would have to do. I fully expect him to run at a later date.

Wrong. He surivived a tough race in '92 (when Dems thought they finished him off) and ran for Senate two years later. He could have run in '08 and many expected him to.

http://darthno.ytmnd.com/

If he beats Casey he still would have a shot at the Veep slot.

McCain/Santorum, for instance.

I was thinking VP, too, but I doubt he'll take it. At this point, I guess he's hoping to run in 2012 (if a Dem gets elected) or in 2016. Eleven years from now he'll only be 58 years old.

If he loses his re-election bid (which is likely) then he willbasically be stuck

Shut up, hack. Like we haven't gone over that point already. You're so annoying.

Someone is moody today...

Someone is being the brainless moron they always are...

Your just bitter than more than likley your hero's political career is most likely  over  in less than 16 months

It's not over 'til it's over.  That's something I learned last yr.

I can have a regular conversation with others about this, Smash. I'm angry because you're an idiot who resorts to nothing but partisan stupidity all the time.

You were talking about his future if he wins re-election.  Even you have admitted Casey is likely to win the election.  So if we can talk about any future he may have if he wins, why can't we talk about the future he has if he loses (which is more likley to happen than a win)??

Because we already discussed if he loses and you bring it up to throw more partisanship into this? Even after someone brings up the point, you still go after me.

So because we already discussed it, it has no merit??  Before this latest announcement how many times did we talk about a possible Presidential run if he won??    Anyway my post had nothing to do with you, I just quoted you because you were the last one to post on the subject, if you didn't post there I would have responded to AUH20 anyway

It has no merit when others brought it up the same way you did. We get the point, hack! You don't need to post the same exact thing again. You don't see someone post something about him running, then someone going against that point and then someone going against the point again.

Again I'll bring up the point, how often was a possible Presidential run talked about on this board.  If we can talk about what could happen if someone wins, we can aslo talk about what can happen if they lose, especially in this case when he has a better chance of losing than winning.  Hell you even made a post (talking about an article) about him losing to run for Presiden.

But when we talk about that, we talk about the possible campaign. By saying, "Well he might lose so that ends it." we are discussing anything. We just bring it up and it's done. 


  
And that has to do with him actually running! Saying he won't run can only mean one thing in a discussion: He's not running. That's it. Nothing to discuss. It was brought up before. Ok. We get it.

Well I was actually going to add something to my post that I doubt  McCain would pick him as VP, I was having some comp problems & needed to reboot, so I just posted what I wrote & was going to comeback & add that to the post, but when I came back to do so you started attacking me, so I never brought that up

First of all, even if Santorum loses in 2006, there is an open Senate race (presumably) and an open Governor's race (presumably) in 2010.  Does anyone really think that a man with two victories in statewide races would be impossible to sell as a candidate for either?  His career is not necessarily over.

Surely, were he to lose his Senate seat, it would diminish his prospects of running in 2008 anyway

Dave

I was bored and put on FOX News to listen to when I woke up this morning and Santorum was on and said he wouldn't run in 2008 but he isn't ruling it out for a 2012 run.

If Santorum loses next year and Rendell wins, Santorum will be the frontrunner for Governor in 2010. He could run for Senate again but if he's trying to set up for a Presidential run down the road, Governor would be his best bet. He'll have many options. Plus, we also have to remember that Bush might appoint him to some position.

Aren't you glad Santorum isn't running?

Funny...  ::)

I hope he wouldn't run at all, but everyone knows he's going to.  Be it in 2008 or later, he's going to run; it's a given, just like Hillary.

And a sad day it would be if he actually became our president.

I'm halfway through the Hannity and Colmes interview with Santorum from last night (I recorded it) and I'm not convinced that he won't run. He says that a Presidential campaign is "not impossible." He just doesn't "intend to run."

If he wins next year, he's going to be thinking about it. Suddenly, he might "intend" to do something different.

But wouldn't it be great if he didn't?

Wouldn't it be great if you stopped talking?????????? :)


Well as I said on the other page, Santorum said this morning on FOX news that he wouldn't run in 2008 but he isn't ruling it out in the future.

Well, if you still have to attack me personally...

If he runs, he runs and if he doesn't, he doesn't

Dave

No you were just trying to bait Phil into giving a response, which is why I said that. I'll admit I have absolutly no respect for you but I'm not going to attack you personally.

Exactly. Those that seek trouble will find it.

I told you it's not dead yet...


From grassrootspa.com (http://grassrootspa.com)



Two days after saying he had no intention of running for president in 2008, Republican Sen. Rick Santorum said Wednesday there was a slight possibility he could run after all.

"There's a remote chance that that could change, but that's not my intention," Santorum told The Associated Press between television rounds to promote his new book, "It Takes a Family."

Separately, he said he wanted to "leave this little window open" because he didn't know what might happen between now and the election, according to a story posted on the Philadelphia Inquirer Web site.

Santorum will appear on Inside Politics in just a few minutes to discuss his book/possible Presidential run.

"The door is shut but not locked."  Basically the same old stuff - He's not doing it at this point (what everyone says) but it's still a possibility.

A few days ago, thinking it was over, George Allen moved up to the number 1 spot on my list for 2008. Santorum is back at the top.

Santorum would beat Hillary (no question in my mind), but I doubt he could beat Bayh or Warner.
Anyway, IDK what his 2008 ambitions are, but it's going to be a hot race.  Democrats better have a good rebuttal to Santorum's argument about running for the Senate whip (the Thune effect we possibly saw in SD last year).  They really need to talk up Casey (esp. as someone who'll have clout in the Senate), or this will be 2004 redux.
Casey, for example, could argue that he'll decrease Republican margins in the Senate which would require bipartisanship for any successful legislation, rather than having one party consistently passing stuff (like CAFTA and dark age energy bills).  With Santorum's new book, it's also going to be pivotal whether Casey will integrate "family" into his theme.  I've said it before:  This race is far from over.  But my guess right now:
Casey--52%
Santorum--47%.
This can change, espeically in Purple Pennsylvania.

Yep. A Quinnipiac poll showed that 60% of Pennsylvania's feel Santorum's leadership position in the GOP is a good thing for PA. He'll use the point about running for whip to his advantage big time.

Yeah.

Santorums going to have to battle Sarah Palin, Charlie Crist, Mike Pence, Mike Huckabee, and Jeb Bush for the nomination.....

Don't forget Mark Sanford!