Lack of funding a major reason for campaign end, says Santorum

[gam197]

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lac...-says-santorum

Santorum told Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council Thursday that, although he had originally cited the health of his 3-year-old daughter Bella as a major reason for leaving the trail, his campaign had brought in practically no new funding since early this month.


“For the first time the campaign had a debt, the debt was from my perspective a little bit more substantial than I was comfortable with,” Santorum told Perkins in a radio interview. “And I’ll be honest with you, Tony, in the last week after Wisconsin we basically raised almost no money.

I know there is another thread but I have read all nine pages and it was more a critique of Santorum.- (they may ad this to the bottom of that thread?)

For this thread, I would like to have comments only about what effect money has on campaign(Romney spent 103 million compared to Santorum's 19 million) and also does the protestant religion play a role as we have only had one catholic president. Is Mitt Romney seen as a protestant?

There was another thread stating that the catholic vote went to Romney (54%), Yet the Evangelicals voted for Santorum in Louisiana.

The head of the Republican party backed Mitt Romney because he had money backers(Sununu and Ayotte in nh - both catholics) and didn't back Sanotrum ( 16 years in congress) or Gingrinch or Paul - all tea party types with little cash flow.

We know that Obama is raising 1 billion dollars and that the last presidential election cost close to that.

We also know that 7 plus members of congress are worth over 100 million in private money - Kerry(d), Rockefeller(D), Buchanan(R), Kohl(D), Polis(D), Warner(D), Harman (D), Issa (R), McCaul (R), Feinstein (D)

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

I was very sad to see Santorum leave the race, but I knew that he was running his
campaign on a shoestring. I, for one, would have given him more but it was not
possible. I have sent in a small donation to help him offset the debt and I hope
others will do the same. If millions of us will do that, it would go a long way and
maybe even retire the debt.
As for money in the campaigns, I can't see how we can do without it, but it not necessarily
always the one with the most money wins. Motivating the grassroots volunteers is
just as critical, maybe more so.

[Pork Roll]

Once again we'll get the best president money can buy--Romney.

[Elisabeth51]

Money does have a lot to do with---and so do volunteers.

I used to get incredibly frustrated with the republicans in my county because they would not do door-to-door in my, or other poor, areas of the city. They said "we have to stay where our contributions are" and the democrats were knocking on the doors in my neighbourhood saying "Hi, see, we care about you, we're here and THEY aren't!"

Contributions are important, but if you get the people out to get the votes.....

I have republican friends who did nothing but complain about Santorum because he wasn't addressing real issues like the economy.

I have foreign friends, who are not citizens here but work here and complain constantly about our involvement in the middle east (where they are from) who LOVE Obama and contribute to his campaign. I'm pretty close to risking friendship and saying if they don't want us in their business to stay out of ours!

I still vote but I am not as involved as I used to be becuase I was sick of the lying and the chasing after the people with money while they could have gotten loyal voters from the middle and lower class if they'd bothered to take the time to talk to us.

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

Elizabeth,
Our problem is getting enough volunteers to go door to door, ANYWHERE there are
voters who are not staunch democrats. We go to voters who are receptive to hearing
our message, but we don't have enough walkers to make a huge dent, yet.

[Elisabeth51]

Originally Posted by TexCatholic4JMJ

Elizabeth,
Our problem is getting enough volunteers to go door to door, ANYWHERE there are
voters who are not staunch democrats. We go to voters who are receptive to hearing
our message, but we don't have enough walkers to make a huge dent, yet.

I wish they had said that, but I promise, the words of the county steering committee to me were "We are not interested in going into those areas. We have to work in the areas that have money, where we know we have voters."

I know there's a lack of volunteers, for many things, unfortunately. Hopefully we can all get people more motivated to get involved I do live in another state now, and perhaps when I'm done with graduate school I will get involved again, it's a new place!

[KCT]

I wish they'd go back to campaigning only in person and discussing only their ideas and goals. And while we're at it, they have to travel by train.

It's gotten to the point where I don't watch debates or listen to ads. I go on line and look up voting records to see what they do, not what they claim.

[estesbob]

"No bucks, no Buck Rogers"

[Dale_M]

Originally Posted by gam197

I
We know that Obama is raising 1 billion dollars and that the last presidential election cost close to that.

His 2012 fundraising goal seems to be somewhat less that that: "just north" of $750 million.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/p...74945-163.html

That is approximately what he spent in 2008, although that year included the cost of the primary season.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=aerix76GvmRM

So expect a lot of television commercials this year.

Originally Posted by Pork Roll

Once again we'll get the best president money can buy--Romney.

Money is the mother's milk of politics. Its an old saying, but still true.

As for Santorum, his rise to the status of contender came late. Until then, he had a lot of trouble getting funds. And then, because it was soon obvious that Romney would have the delegate numbers to win the nomination, funds for the other GOP candidates dried up. Some people are willing to donate to a losing cause just to score points or exert pressure on the presumptive winner, however most people are not.

[OriginalJS]

Regarding your wondering about protestants and Catholic when it comes to support for Santorum, my observations are that the old protestant-catholic divisions have been replaced by the division between what I'll call liberal and conservative on social issues. Strongly Catholic Santorum did well in heavily Protestant Bible Belt States where many share his views on social issues. Here in Minnesota where I live there are Catholic groups that have been working for some time for Obama's reelection, to the dismay of more conservative Catholics, even those reared in families where voting for Democrats was a hallowed and respected tradition. I think Santorum would have continued to campaign if funds had kept coming in.

[Cider]

Money comes from supporters, if you don't have support, you don't have the cash. I wish Santorum could have won the nomination but maybe next time.

[gam197]

originally posted by Original JS
Regarding your wondering about protestants and Catholic when it comes to support for Santorum, my observations are that the old protestant-catholic divisions have been replaced by the division between what I'll call liberal and conservative on social issues. Strongly Catholic Santorum did well in heavily Protestant Bible Belt States where many share his views on social issues. Here in Minnesota where I live there are Catholic groups that have been working for some time for Obama's reelection, to the dismay of more conservative Catholics, even those reared in families where voting for Democrats was a hallowed and respected tradition. I think Santorum would have continued to campaign if funds had kept coming in.

He won Louisianna - an evangelical victory and did well in Wisconsin with 28% compared to Romney 37%. He had the vote of many people but not the financial backing? The evangelical states pushed him forewood but the mainline protestant did not back him, I believe.

Minnesota is a confusing state, I've never understood. You have Michelle Backman and Al Frankin(before him Norm Coleman(Jewish)(R) and Paull Wellstone(Jewish(D)) - a population of scandianvian which tend to be socialists so I would think they vote democratic. You also had Jesse Venture as your governor. ???

Santorum did poorly in the democratic states and often these have a stronger catholic population. Every president has been protestant except for one so it seems Mitt Romney would be a better fit, however, I am not sure if he is seen as protestant and if that is why?

originally posted by Cider
Money comes from supporters, if you don't have support, you don't have the cash.

The voting number show he did get strong votes on a very limited budget but still no big money backers came to his aid whereas Romney had his own money and other weathy connections. That is why when the republican party endorsed him, it causes a great deal of hurt to the other candidates who have been in congress but lack money.

[Charlotte408]

Originally Posted by Cider

Money comes from supporters, if you don't have support, you don't have the cash. I wish Santorum could have won the nomination but maybe next time.

I don't think it's that cut and dry. Santorum (or whichever candidate) may have plenty of supporters, maybe they just don't have the money or the means.

Democrats are really, really good at community organizing.

Somehow - people get paid to protest, make comments and rabble rouse online, etc etc etc.

I think many people who would help campaign don't know where to start. I know where I live there seems to be zero outreach to voters of my type.

[zab]

Originally Posted by TexCatholic4JMJ

I was very sad to see Santorum leave the race, but I knew that he was running his
campaign on a shoestring. I, for one, would have given him more but it was not
possible. I have sent in a small donation to help him offset the debt and I hope
others will do the same. If millions of us will do that, it would go a long way and
maybe even retire the debt.
As for money in the campaigns, I can't see how we can do without it, but it not necessarily
always the one with the most money wins. Motivating the grassroots volunteers is
just as critical, maybe more so.

I also was sad to see him leave. I gave $50-75 per month to his campaign and plan to continue with at least $50 per month to help offset the debt. (And I'm not ready to just give up. He hasn't officially ended his campaign and who knows what can happen if people continue to support the candidate of their choice. But I do understand the situation .) I think it was mostly people like us and those sacrificing with even smaller gifts that kept his campaign going for as long as it did. He had lots of supporters but not the big money that is needed to fight off attack ads. But I think his campaign was a success in that we got to listen to and know Santorum and his family a little better and learn about the important issues that this country is facing. There were, and probably still are, several ugly rumors and so many unjust, cruel and insulting remarks attacking his family. But that is usually the case when a God fearing candidate runs for office that all hell breaks loose in attacking the candidate. Rick's wife, Karen, gave wonderful answers addressing those rumors in her interviews. God bless the Santorums.

[JimR-OCDS]

Santorum committed political suicide back when he appeared on Meet the Press and This Week with George Stephanopoulas.

First, calling Obama a snob, and misquoting him at the same time, made him look like he was intellectually a weakling.

Second, stating that JFK's speech about separation of Church and State making him want to puke, finished him off.

Donations began to dwindle along with political support.

He'd win the evangelical and pro-life votes in the primary, but most knew he'd get hammered in the general election.

In addition, his vicious attacks against Romney, again, with misinformation, helped seal his fate. Yet despite this, he still thought that Romney might ask him to be his running mate.

I think his political career in national politics is over, after his poor performance.

Jim