GOP nomination history

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

So we all know the last two nominating processes have essentially nominated the runner up from the previous primary. In that case, why hasn't Santorum been spoken much about or polling above 2% in any poll thus far? Don't get me wrong I have a burning hatred for Santorum, but logically and statistically he should be much higher than a meager 2% given the GOP's history of supporting the runner up, am I right?

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

McCain and Romney were the runners up in open seat elections. Nobody even bothered to challenge Romeny in 2012 because there was a sitting president. Chris Christie and Mitch Daniels both declined draft movements. Christie was the closest to a "next in line" that we have, and he was abandoned after (fake) 'scandals' (on top of hugging Obama or whatever. Republicans use the scandals as an excuse to hate him for that much like the allegations I saw on here about what happened to Corbett - education used to hate him for Penn State - except Christie's demons are much more real. His favorabilities haven't sunk like Perry's).

Paul Ryan was the other potential runner-up being VP, but he declined due to getting a very powerful position almost to eternity if he wants it.

Thus with those 3 out, there's no logical runner-up. Santorum wasn't a true one. And we know why - he led in the polls for like a month and only in the most socially conservative of places outside of the South which didn't even include his home state.

Bush is the only logical person left (though he will fall off obviously) making this a wide open nomination process.

[Maxwell]

Santorum is closer to Pat Buchanan in that respect - Second to George Senior, but in no way a successor obviously.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Yeah, everyone is essentially handing the nomination to Bush, but I expect the primary to be hard fought this go around, especially if Bush gets a challenge from Christie or any other "establishment" candidate.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Here's the problem. Santorum didn't finish second in 2012. Ron Paul did.

[retromike22]

Here's the problem. Santorum didn't finish second in 2012. Ron Paul did.

Ugh. Paul people.

[Mister Mets]

The general perception is that Santorum finished second, and a distant second, because the field was so weak.

He's also not considered to be as strong as Reagan, Papa Bush, McCain or Romney.

Republicans don't automatically vote for the next in line. It comes with institutional benefits that Santorum has been unable to take advantage of.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Here's the problem. Santorum didn't finish second in 2012. Ron Paul did.

Again, Paul only finished 2nd at the convention because of Santorum/Gingrich releasing their delegates just before the convention for party unity purposes. Paul finished 3rd in the pre-releases delegate count (Gingrich had 12 fewer delegates than Paul, Santorum had roughly 100 more than Paul), he finished 4th in state wins.

[The Mikado]

Why do people keep saying that Romney was second in 2008 when Mike Huckabee was?

[Mr. Morden]

Why do people keep saying that Romney was second in 2008 when Mike Huckabee was?

Romney was second in popular vote, but not in delegates.  Though the only reason that Huckabee surpassed Romney in delegates is because he stayed in the race well past the point at which it was clear that McCain was going to win the nomination, while Romney didn't.  At the time Romney dropped out, he was ahead of Huckabee in both votes and delegates.

You could also ask "Who was second in the 1992 Democratic primaries?"  Brown finished ahead of Tsongas in both votes and delegates in that case, but Tsongas was obviously Clinton's main competition, and Brown only caught up to him by staying in the race well pas the point at which it was obvious that Clinton was the nominee.

[Mister Mets]

Why do people keep saying that Romney was second in 2008 when Mike Huckabee was?

Romney was in second place when he dropped out after recognizing he had no shot of winning the nomination.

Huckabee stayed in until McCain got a majority of delegates.

Romney also got more votes than Huck.

By staying in the race a month longer, Huckabee got a grand total of seven more delegates than Romney.

[bobloblaw]

So we all know the last two nominating processes have essentially nominated the runner up from the previous primary. In that case, why hasn't Santorum been spoken much about or polling above 2% in any poll thus far? Don't get me wrong I have a burning hatred for Santorum, but logically and statistically he should be much higher than a meager 2% given the GOP's history of supporting the runner up, am I right?

Because candidates who lose their state by 20 points in a Senate race arent serious contenders for the Presidency