So... is Santorum next in line for 2016?

[retromike22]

The next in line pattern in the Republican nomination seems to have continued into 2012. Will it work again in 2016?

[Senator Clarence]

He is making the right moves after exiting... visiting NRA, conference call with supporters, etc

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Well, the only time it didn't happen with the modern primary system is when George W Bush stole Buchanan's turn.

[politicus]

Well, the only time it didn't happen with the modern primary system is when George W Bush stole Buchanan's turn.

'
Too bad. A Buchanan campaign would have been interesting to watch

[I Can't Get That Sound You Make, Out Of My Head]

As jfern said, Buchanan was the only non-next in line in the modern era, and Santorum has actually held elective office, but I can't see them nominating him.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

As jfern said, Buchanan was the only non-next in line in the modern era, and Santorum has actually held elective office, but I can't see them nominating him.

Never underestimate the GOP electorate.

November 2012 (after Obama is projected to be reelected):

Oh no! It's because we nominated a moderate again! Let's have a true conservative in 2016!

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

No.

Santorum is too polarizing and too, well, wacky.

[Governor Scott]

He'll still be young enough to run in 2016 and would already have half the base behind him at that time, so I'd say yes.

[CathKhan]

By 2016, he's been out of office for ten years and the last time he's won an actual election is frickin' 16 years ago. If he really is next in line, God help us.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

No.

Santorum is too polarizing and too, well, wacky.

So, 2012 field was pathetic indeed: a choice between a polarizing wacko and a man with charisma of wet wiper.

[Chris B]

He'll probably have a pretty good chance if he runs. Especially if the base really gets sucked into the "everytime we nominate a moderate, we lose" mindset, and Christie comes across as too much of a Romney redux.

[ModerateCoward]

Good chance.

[NHI]

No.

Santorum is too polarizing and too, well, wacky.

Agreed. If he is nominated, say hello to Pres. Clinton, Cuomo, Schweitzer or someone else.

[Cobbler]

Santorum was a last resort this time. I don't think he'll be able to pull it off against other big conservative names.

[Mr. Morden]

No, of course not.  Santorum is more like Buchanan than he is like Bush, Dole, McCain, Romney, etc., in that the party establishment doesn't like him, and will go with someone else.  Christie, Rubio, McDonnell, and Ryan are all far more likely to be nominated than him.

[A dog on every car, a car in every elevator]

Iowa becomes more irrelevant for the GOP each cycle, Florida more influential.  Winning Florida might be diminished a bit if Rubio or Jeb had homefield advanatge but even so, that plus already being well-positioned to dominate the invisible primary...  One of the more interesting dynamics of 2016 is you have two legacies in Jeb and Hillary as speculated frontrunners and their proteges as two other speculated frontrunners in Rubio and Cuomo (Cuomo of Bill Clinton; Gillibrand is more of a Hillary protege).  I wonder if the symmetry could lead to bipartisan support for scrapping that fairly useless constitutional penalty on same-state running mates.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Eh, I hope Santorum's not the next in line. Could you imagine the embarrassment of a Clinton-Santorum match-up?

I know the focus was always "Mitt has a problem with the very conservative," but the opposite could be said of Santorum, and I think it's much more damaging: Santorum has a problem with moderates, Democrats, and liberals.

Personally, I would throw my full support behind Hillary if Santorum was the nominee. And I bet a lot of moderate Republicans would too. Hillary is a strong leader, and half the problem people have with Obama is that he's not. She'd be a force against meek little Santorum.

[Cobbler]

Yeah, Santorum being the nominee would cause me to vote Democrat. He's just far too socially conservative for my tastes. And I think for most conservative Republicans he will look less attractive when he's not next to Mitt Romney.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Yeah, Santorum being the nominee would cause me to vote Democrat. He's just far too socially conservative for my tastes. And I think for most conservative Republicans he will look less attractive when he's not next to Mitt Romney.

Just thinking about a Santorum administration... Hey, HagridOfTheDeep, any room in Canada?

[ModerateCoward]

If Mitt Romney could be next in line, Santorum can be too, especially if he can hire someone to coach him how to say conservative things without being that controversial. Also a bag or two of money could help.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Yeah, Santorum being the nominee would cause me to vote Democrat. He's just far too socially conservative for my tastes. And I think for most conservative Republicans he will look less attractive when he's not next to Mitt Romney.

Just thinking about a Santorum administration... Hey, HagridOfTheDeep, any room in Canada?

Haha, you bet there is. But I can't see a libertarian lasting too long in Canada.

[MilesC56]

Well, Romney's VP choice may be the GOP heir-apparent in 2016. I think Santorum is in a good position for 2016 though.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Or the veep candidate will be the fake heir-apparent, ala Sarah Palin.

I guess that would rely on Romney making a controversial pick, which is sort of unlikely. Even Gov. Martinez or Sen. Rubio wouldn't be as controversial as Palin.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Yeah, Santorum being the nominee would cause me to vote Democrat. He's just far too socially conservative for my tastes. And I think for most conservative Republicans he will look less attractive when he's not next to Mitt Romney.

Just thinking about a Santorum administration... Hey, HagridOfTheDeep, any room in Canada?

Haha, you bet there is. But I can't see a libertarian lasting too long in Canada.

Even in Alberta or something?

[Nagas]

Well, Romney's VP choice may be the GOP heir-apparent in 2016. I think Santorum is in a good position for 2016 though.

This. If the VP is controversial to the base or forgoes a run, Santorum could easily be a top contender.