Un reconocimiento al ánimo de Santorum

Analistas independientes e insiders republicanos coinciden en descalificar al Senador Rick Santorum como candidato viable debido a su estruendosa derrota en las elecciones al Senado de 2006. Pero hasta el momento está siendo uno de los potenciales candidatos más presentes en el circuito Iowa-New Hampshire-Carolina del Sur. Habla sin desanimarse a grupos de pocas decenas de votantes que a veces no llegan ni a 20, va a todas las emisoras de radio locales que le invitan, y está contratando personal.

Su esfuerzo es elogiable porque eso de rebajarse a ser un don nadie y recorrer pueblos y condados sin saber si habrá alguien esperando para escucharte es lo que los votantes de esos estados exigen y agradecen de los candidatos, y la prueba que algunos grandes nombres no suelen superar. Puede que no pueda ganar, pero es posible que el empeño le permita jugar cierto papel en el proceso.

Jonathan Martin (POLITICO.com) nos acerca las actividades de Santorum en Iowa:

(...) Iowa tradition also bodes well for Santorum: The state has a habit of rewarding those who honor the state’s treasured first-in-the-nation status by making frequent trips here and asking for votes one at a time. Santorum is already putting in the legwork, having been to the state 11 times since 2009.

“He’s probably making the most ground in this part of the state,” said Sam Clovis, who hosts a conservative talk show in Republican-heavy northwest Iowa.

Tuesday provided a typical example of how Santorum is paying homage to the Iowa way. He was up early in Des Moines after a candidate forum the night before, met with an activist at a coffee shop, did a couple of morning radio interviews with popular conservative talkers, trekked westward across the state to speak to 15 Republicans at a luncheon in Denison and popped up north to Le Mars for some Blue Bunny ice cream and to meet privately with local leaders that afternoon. He finished his day by addressing 150 Woodbury County GOP activists in this rock-ribbed city and stayed to shake hands and pose for pictures with those he didn’t greet when he walked to every table an hour before the dinner began.

Continúa (...)