Rick Santorum - is he toast?

[MissCatholic]

In the latest Rasmussen Poll, Democrat Bob Casey leads Santorum by a huge 20 points 54-34.

Now i think we can safely say that santorum is relying on Bush. If Bush has an approval rating below 50 then Santorum will lose. If Bush has an approval rating at around 51-52 then Santorum can win but the problem republicans like Santorum has apparently is that bush doesnt care as he doesnt have to go to the voters again.

So what can Santorum do - he might have no choice but to bring Bush-Rove tactics to Pennslyvania but this surely will not work. It didnt work in 2000 nor 2004. The smear campaign to get rid of Spector didnt work either.

So is Santorum toast - i think so.

[Moooooo]

No, but he's gradually getting there.  I know, I know.  He's a good speacker and campaigner.  He'll have a ton of cash.  Regardless his numbers are horrible for an incumbent senator.  If he bounces back from his current numbers it maybe one of the greatest political comebacks, ever.

[© tweed]

No.  He's going to win.

[MissCatholic]

Does he have to bring Bush-Rove tactics to Pennslyvania?

[Ben.]

No, but he's gradually getting there.  I know, I know.  He's a good speacker and campaigner.  He'll have a ton of cash.  Regardless his numbers are horrible for an incumbent senator.  If he bounces back from his current numbers it maybe one of the greatest political comebacks, ever.

I agree, I don't think for a moment that Casey is going to win by 20 pionts... But an incumbent Senator with a high profile who's repeatedly behind by anywhere from 10-15, let alone 20 pionts is really in a bad situation.

Tweed; I'll never understand why you don't think Casey will win. 

[danwxman]

Does he have to bring Bush-Rove tactics to Pennslyvania?

They didn't work in 2004.

Right now he's avoiding Bush, by not appearing at Bush's speech in Wilkes-Barre today.

[Giant Saguaro]

Seeing as how Casey hasn't publicly taken liberal positions like the wingnut professor who wants to try and challenge him aside from a few "working man" spin-offs on economics (and even there it's been limited), I'd say Santorum is just about finished. He won't be able to come back like that in a state like PA. My bet is against it, anyway.

PA is becoming, from what I've seen, a solid small to very small majority Dem state on a large-constituency basis.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

When do all the people who expect Santorum to win to make his comeback?

Ben: Tweed's just an incurrable pessimist. After Democratic "Hawk" briefly changed his name he made some comment about how optimism is only for fools and on Tuesday was predicting that Kilgore would make up the gap and win up until the point when it basically became impossible for him to do so.

[Lincoln Republican]

Rick Santorum is a great Senator.  One of the better ones.

I would love to see him re-elected in 2006.  He is a credit to Pennsylvania and to the USA.

He is not going to lose by anywhere near 20 points.

However, as much as it pains me to say it, he is going to go down to defeat, IMHO. 

This will be a great loss to Pennsylvania and to the USA.     

[TeePee4Prez]

Rick Santorum is a great Senator.  One of the better ones.

I would love to see him re-elected in 2006.  He is a credit to Pennsylvania and to the USA.

He is not going to lose by anywhere near 20 points.

However, as much as it pains me to say it, he is going to go down to defeat, IMHO. 

This will be a great loss to Pennsylvania and to the USA.     

A loss I'll gladly take!

[MasterJedi]

No.  He's going to win.

^^^^

Nomo likes the numbers that are a year out. -_-

[memphis]

The election is a year away, folks. I know this is fun to debate, but there is no way to tell what is going to happen politically a year from now. Nonetheless, Rick Santorum appears to be in trouble.

[Democratic Hawk]

Apparently, he doesn't want to be seen with Bush in Pennsylvania any time soon - so you can make want you want of that!

I'd like to think Rick Santorum is on a one way ticket back to the Dark Ages, which is exactly where he belongs

Dave

[Keystone Phil]

When do all the people who expect Santorum to win to make his comeback?

It's a year away. It can happen. He's been in tough races before.

[Keystone Phil]

http://politicspa.com/temp/rs%20too%20conservative.htm

[TeePee4Prez]

http://politicspa.com/temp/rs%20too%20conservative.htm

Uhh, his numbers were MUCH better in 2000 than they are now and he now has to face an opponent with MUCH better name rec as well.  GAME OVER!

[Sam Spade]

Probably, but I've certainly seen stranger things happen in a political election.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

No, not yet. Right now he's had a strange looking fork shoved through him and is being held over a fire. While it's not to late for the fork to be taken out of the fire, in all probability it will stay there until Santorum turns a nice crispy brown colour.
Methinks that the PA Republicans might be better off trying to take out Rendell instead of trying to save Santorum.

[Keystone Phil]

http://politicspa.com/temp/rs%20too%20conservative.htm

Uhh, his numbers were MUCH better in 2000 than they are now and he now has to face an opponent with MUCH better name rec as well.  GAME OVER!

So why wasn't it game over in '90 and '92?

[Erc]

This span of a few months has been very bad for the Republicans politically--and Bush and the Republican Party really aren't doing so well, for obvious reasons.  But, if this proves the nadir of their fortunes (which I believe it will), then who knows what could happen a year from now.

That said, Santorum is not going to win this race.

[Jake]

Does he have to bring Bush-Rove tactics to Pennslyvania?

They didn't work in 2004.

Right now he's avoiding Bush, by not appearing at Bush's speech in Wilkes-Barre today.

Tobyhanna's a good distance away from Wilkes-Barre.

BRTD - when campaigning actually begins

[RJ]

Election is a year away, of course. A lot can happen in a year, of course.

Still, I'd expect Santorum to be showing some preparation for this race. Anyone have any ideas on what he's got up his sleeve? Please post specifics, not the usual "Rove tactics," "mud slinging," and so on.

What does he have in his favor?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

If the election were held today, Santorum would cry foul since he's supposed to have another year. <rimshot />

[Smash255]

Maybe not quite toast yet, but I would say the bread is in the toaster & the finger is on the button

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Hey, maybe his base will start to abandon him now.

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