Rick Santorum Not Running for President
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James Joyner | Friday, November 17, 2006 |
Despite a draft movement with throngs of supporters numbering in the single digits, Rick Santorum has ruled out a presidential bid.
Don’t expect to see Sen. Rick Santorum’s name on the 2008 presidential ballot. “Absolutely, positively not. Absolutely not,” Santorum said yesterday on The Michael Smerconish Show on WPHT-AM (1210). “My wife would throw me out of the house if I do anything in ‘08.”
Even though he lost his Senate seat last week by 18 points to Democrat Bob Casey Jr., some supporters hoped he would still fill the social conservative niche on the Republican ticket. William J. Bennett, the former U.S. secretary of education and national drug czar, had predicted a “draft Rick Santorum” movement, citing a lack of conservatism on the part of the current GOP front-runners, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Bennett is apparently consuming some of those drugs he was trying to keep our kids from using. One does not go from getting trounced in one’s bid for re-election to the Senate to the presidency in two years. (Unless you’re Abraham Lincoln and there’s a four way race.)
via Taegan Goddard
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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Santorum's best claim to being remembered may well prove to be due to Dan Savage.
But what if your a freshman senator who beat an out of state clown? Can you ride that to the presidency?
Bennett is apparently consuming some of those drugs he was trying to keep our kids from using.
That was civil. /sarcasm
Bennett predicting a movement to recruit Santorum is just a wee bit different that Bennett leading a movement to recruit Santorum... and the linked article gives no indication that that is what Bennett is doing.
Not really a surprise that he won't run after the election results. It will be interesting to see who the social conservatives turn to for their candidate in 2008. Brownback is one option, as are Huckabee and Hagel.
Right, Bains. And Bush's predicting that the Republicans would keep the House wasn't the same as his *wanting* them to keep the House.
Predicting = wanting
Predicting = leading
Funny how those supposedly appreciative of nuance discard it so rapidly when it does not suit their purposes.
So Anderson, do YOU have any info showing Bennett is leading the charge to recruit Santorum for a Presidential bid?
I'm with Bains here.
Further, there is a major difference between Santorum the winning in his own district, and winning the national race. Philadelphia is not exactly the easiest neighborhood for a conservative to win in, and his not winning there this time, is one thing.
The question of whether not he would win a national election, is another matter altogether.
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