Former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate
Former US Senator from Pennsylvania
Rick Santorum
How does one recover from the biggest defeat (by an 18-point margin) for an incumbent in a Senate election in 30 years? Perhaps more importantly, how does one tackle the problem of having one’s name being associated to lube, fecal matter and anal sex (gay activist, Dan Savage, started a campaign in 2003 to popularize an alternate definition of Santorum, in retaliation to Santorum’s equating the issue of gay marriage to bestiality and pedophilia) which shows up on the top of every search engine query of his name?
The former Senator of Pennsylvania and rising star of the Republican Party certainly has his work cut out for him. Santorum however, has never been one to shy away from a problem or controversy. A passionate and opinionated man, even his critics readily admit that this articulate socio-fiscal conservative believes in his own convictions, and never plays to the gallery.
His stance on national security, economy, social issues and his rhetoric against gay agenda mirrors those of the Republican conservative grassroots, and being the only recognizable practicing Catholic among the front runners for 2012 GOP race presents him with a unique stranglehold on the religious money. His excellent relationship with Evangelical Protestants offers yet another channel of support among the Christian conservative base.
Santorum captivating oratory skills, his regular TV appearances in the FOX network and his impressive network among Washington's lobbyist lends further weight to his credibility as a potential candidate. In a Republican field that is generally considered as less than inspiring, Santorum has the chance to add another alternate definition to his name: The Comeback Kid.
