Santorum 2012

I've been told that I somehow hurt the feelings of the Mean Old Man as if such a thing is possible. To cheer him up here is an update on former Senator Rick Santorum's (R-VA) quest for the presidency.

Like all pretenders to the throne Santorum has a PAC that "is committed to helping candidates and causes who share Sen. Santorum's commitment to conservative principles." The problem is that the PAC raises a lot of money but not much of it actually is used to support candidates.

PG: In the second half of 2009, according to federal filings, the PAC raised $710,000. Of that total, $557,000 was spent on direct mail and related expenditures -- building a nationwide base of donors and supporters for Mr. Santorum. Just $38,500 was donated to candidates or causes.

He is not the only prospective Republican Presidential candidate that has a PAC that tells people it's purpose is to support like minded candidates but actually sends very little money to them.

Mitt Romney raised $3.57 million in 2009 for his PAC but gave about $70,000 to candidates and causes.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee raised $824,000 through his Huck PAC last year and the the PAC spent $40,000 on giving to candidates and causes.

Sarah Palin pulled in $2.13 million last year spent about $57,000 on candidates and causes.

Rick was in Iowa again and told an overflow crowd of 30 people at a diner that ‘It’s gut-check time’ to oppose the reduction of nuclear weapons and accused the President of supporting "leftist dictators" in Latin America. He dropped by Lincoln, Nebraska to sing the praises of the Tea Party movement and said today's partisan polarization and the abusive or violent rhetoric sometimes directed at President Barack Obama is no worse than what President George W. Bush endured. He also wants to repeal Health Care Reform and backs Israel's interests.

Longtime Santorum fan GrassrootsPA points out this story from Politics Daily

Why We Should Take Rick Santorum's Presidential Ambitions Seriously

Nonetheless, his most damaging misstep involved the fact that, though the Pennsylvania senator resided in Leesburg, Va., he used taxpayer money from the Penn Hills School District to cover online school tuition for his children.



But Rick Santorum is now essentially a man without a state.

In 2004, he endorsed Sen. Arlen Specter during a tough primary challenge from Rep. Patrick Toomey. (Many believe Santorum's team was involved in whisper campaigns suggesting to conservative voters that Toomey was not solidly pro-life.) There are several possible reasons for the endorsement, including pressure from the Bush administration or that Santorum simply believed only Specter was strong enough to hold the Pennsylvania seat for Republicans. But some observers think Santorum resented the possibility of having to compete with another young conservative senator in his home state. Regardless, Santorum's backing helped Specter fend off Toomey's tough challenge. That was six years ago, and it has haunted Santorum ever since, serving as a lone, but serious, asterisk on his otherwise impressive conservative resume, especially given Specter's eventual switch to the Democratic Party.


On a side note congrats to Chris for having one of the best April Fools gags of the day.