This radio spot from “consistent conservative” Rick Santorum helped the former Senator from Pennsylvania, go toe-to-toe with establishment candidate Mitt Romney yesterday in Iowa.
From a media perspective, Santorum’s showing — he lost to Romney by just 8 votes — overshadows how well Ron Paul did in Iowa. Paul’s liberterian ideas had a lot of traction in the state, as evidenced by 21.4% of the vote.
Now, on to New Hampshire with this circus. Will Paul’s desire for a lean and mean government play in the fiercely independent Granite State? Will Santorum’s religious right rhetoric catch on like a revival? Or will Romney, who owns a home in New Hampshire, prevail because he’s the sensible candidate with the deepest pockets?
From an advertising perspective, Romney’s attack ads in Iowa knocked Newt from his false perch. Will Romney turn his canon on Paul or Santorum now? For Romney to win the election in November, he’s going to need the help of Christian conservatives, many who think Mormons are not Christians. That fact may keep Santorum safe, at least for now.
