By Jared Edgerton, Contributing Writer
We go away for a few days during the holidays, and the race in Iowa turns upside down!
Speaker Newt Gingrich’s loss is Senator Rick Santorum’s gain. Days before the Iowa caucus Gingrich’s numbers have sunk to the low teens and Santorum’s have surged placing him in the top tier. The Iowa caucus is now a three-way horse race between Governor Mitt Romney, Congressman Ron Paul, and the Senator.
The increased numbers have led to more media coverage. The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC have all extensively covered Senator Santorum’s campaign the last few days.
Even media mogul, Rupert Murdoch has weighed in, tweeting:
“Good to see santorum [sic] surging in Iowa. Regardless of policies, all debates showed principles, consistency and humility like no other.”
Santorum has also drawn criticism from his opponents–a sign that he is a credible threat. Last week, Governor Rick Perry released a radio ad skewering Santorum for supporting ear marks. And earlier today Congressman Paul called Santorum “very liberal” and Governor Romney bemoaned the senator’s lack of private sector experience.
Santorum has responded to his rivals calling on Iowa voters, “to not settle on a nominee…[and pick a candidate] who will do what is necessary for what America needs.”
As Santorum’s numbers have increased so has his fundraising. At a town hall meeting in Iowa Santorum told the crowd:
“We have raised more money in the last few days than we have in the last few months. And going from zero to 60 in the polls, if you will, will help those resources a lot.”
After the Iowa caucus Senator Santorum will go to New Hampshire, which has its primary on January 10, and South Carolina for the January 21 contest there.
4 Responses
Rick lost the gun owners vote and pro-life vote in 2006. He is also responsible for the Santorum-Hart Tunnel that we really didn’t want.
Rick Santorum took the most lobbyist money of ANYONE his last year in Congress: http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?Ind=K02&cycle=2006
Rick likes to surge from behind.
Sanotrum – That’s one way to get around the Google problem.