Rick Santorum’s 2016 presidential bid may just have the funds to be competitive after all.
Wealthy conservative donor Foster Friess is putting his influence — and his wallet — behind Santorum again. This weekend, Friess will host a private gathering in Scottsdale, Ariz., to garner support for the former Pennsylvania Senator.
The gathering will include conversations with Republican business executives and GOP political consultants from South Carolina and Iowa (two of the three earliest primary and caucus states). Sessions will focus on strategy and financing and will highlight the Santorum-Friess partnership.
Friess’ support bolstered Santorum’s 2012 campaign. The wealthy donor gave more than $2 million to a Santorum Super PAC, keeping the otherwise little-funded effort on the airwaves and in the running.
And the former Pennsylvania Senator gave eventual 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s a run for his money. Santorum won the 2012 Iowa caucuses, as well as 10 other primaries and caucuses during his campaign.
Support and funding from Friess could mean another competitive Santorum campaign. At the very least, the money could give his bid the stamina to last through 2015 and the early primaries in what is looking to be a crowded GOP field.
It seems Santorum was lucky to nab Friess’ backing this time. Friess indicated that he was invited to the inaugural celebrations of 20 Republican governors. Among these was Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who could throw his name into the 2016 field himself.
Despite the invites, there’s no doubt Friess will be supporting Santorum. “I am clearly in the Santorum camp,” Friess wrote in an email to The Washington Post last week.
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6 Responses
What collapse?
Economy is getting. Gays are getting their rights protected.
The conservatives DO seem determined to collapse the government, but have been unsuccessful so far.
How can you be TOO CONSERVATIVE today, in the midst of Americas economical, governmental, and moral collapse.
Why is Santorum even written about in a politicspa post. he hasn’t held office in PA in almost a decade. Nor has he expressed any desire to run for office in PA in the future. Santorum has a narrow national constituency of right wing evangelists who long for an America in the 1950s. Time to cut him loose.
I welcome conservative donors throwing away their money. Excellent!
Rick Santorum will never, ever be president of the United States. Way too conservative and crazy on the right to ever win a general election. Nominating Santorum would ensure four more years of a Democrat in the White House.
“Foster Friess is putting his influence — and his wallet — behind Santorum again.”
Look out Rick! That might not be his “wallet” pressing up against you.