Talk:Mystery:Why Did Santorum Quit?

"How soon will Santorum begin campaigning against pro-life Newt Gingrich?"

Do you really think anybody is taking Gingrich (and his 136 delegates) as seriously as a viable candidate for the Republican nomination at this point? If Santorum really has the best interests of the party (and Romney) at heart, he should be campaigning against the president, not some irrelevant has-been who is staying in the race solely for reasons of self-promotion (...which speaks to your "mystery" about why Santorum decided to stop spending other people's money on a lost cause. There is a lot wrong with the guy, but he's nowhere near as in love with himself or as slimy as Gingrich) . DVMRoberts 10:00, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

I'm curious: which Democrats would you refer to as "slimy" or "in love with himself"? Gingrich is no worse than many liberals in that regard.

But back to the main point. If you're right about Gingrich and Santorum, then is your prediction that Santorum won't campaign against Gingrich? I predict that Santorum will, beginning as early as this month.--Andy Schlafly 10:35, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

Just about all politicians are slimy and in love with themselves. It goes with the territory. There is no need to campaign against Gingrich. He's performed very poorly so far, and will not secure anywhere near enough delegates in the short term to make him a threat in the long term. Romney is the presumptive nominee, and barring some unforeseen disaster (he gets sick, some incredibly horrific thing from his past comes to light, etc) all of the party's focus is on Obama from here on out. DVMRoberts 10:43, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

But, again, if you were right that "[t]here is no need to campaign against Gingrich," then Santorum won't do it. But I predict he does.--Andy Schlafly 11:00, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

If he does, Santorum is even dumber than I thought he might be, and the Republican Party is even more out-of-touch with reality than I had figured. Wasting any sort of resources on a guy who has barely more than a fifth of the delegates as does the leader at the half-way point of the race and who doesn't have any reporters travelling with his campaign would be beyond stupid. DVMRoberts 11:14, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

It would save Romney's campaign millions of dollars if Gingrich were to pull out now, or be discredited. Would it be "beyond stupid" for Romney to ask now for Santorum's help in campaigning against Gingrich?--Andy Schlafly 14:22, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

Evidence that Santorum will not "campaign against Gingrich"

Two days ago, at the NRA convention, with what may be his last guaranteed national audience for the foreseeable future, Santorum focused his remarks on Obama, not on Gingrich. DVMRoberts 13:36, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

His daughter was sick

She has a life threatening condition. I think that is a pretty good reason to quit, maybe not of itself, but combined with Romney's victories at the time, that may have been the impetus.--CamilleT 14:06, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

That would certainly be a good reason to quit, and we pray for a speedy recovery for her. But it seems unlikely that was the real reason Santorum quit at this time, given how he said he would help Romney, and has not endorsed the remaining pro-life, conservative candidate.--Andy Schlafly 14:24, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

why santorum quit and why social conservatives have traction problems at presidential/national election level

Santorum quite because the bankers/businessman have more power than social conservatives in the Republican Party due to fundraising and their ability to do massive television advertising plus the conservative vote was split. In 2020, the balance of power may tip towards the social conservatives (see: balance of power shifting). Conservative 14:09, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

Isn't it obvious?

He quit because it was obvious that he was not in a position to win.--DavidEdwards 14:37, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

But that's been true for a while, and both candidates with less favorable polling (Gingrich and Paul) have stayed in. Moreover, usually quitting for that reason occurs shortly after or before a major primary.--Andy Schlafly 14:51, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

"Moreover, usually quitting for that reason occurs shortly after or before a major primary." Which would explain why Santorum quit before the major primary in Pennsylvania, perhaps?

Also, what Gingrich and Paul do is irrelevant to understanding Santorum. Paul is an ideologue who hopes to use the GOP campaign as a way to advance his libertarian platform. Gingrich is a shameless publicity hound looking to increase his visibility and sell books. Santorum is neither of those. Moreover, not all people do all things for all the same reasons anyways, right? DVMRoberts 15:04, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

I have an open mind about this mystery. But it is unpersuasive to me that Santorum quit when he did simply because he thought he could not win. His second-place standing had not changed for some time, and others in his position or worse, this year and prior years, have not quit like that.--Andy Schlafly 15:37, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

You keep providing excellent reasons to why he would quit; see above for the timing of the announcement before a major primary, and you're right, "his second-place standing had not changed for some time." Do you know what they usually call the guy whose second place standing remains unchanged for a long time? The loser. DVMRoberts 15:41, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

So I think that there is general agreement that he quit because he didn't think he would win. And you've got to quit at some point. In that case the mystery, if there is one, is over the timing rather than the reason.--DavidEdwards 16:22, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

It's the timing and circumstances that are the mystery. When does a competitive athlete stop trying in a game, despite having no chance of winning? Never, except in the unusual situations where there is another explanation (e.g., a stomach virus).

But you may be right. There is logic to inferring that the Santorum campaign simply ran out of money. But when Hillary ran out of money, she didn't quit; when Newt ran out of money he didn't quit. After all, it's only money, and most candidates believe in bigger ideals.--Andy Schlafly 19:19, 15 April 2012 (EDT)

Also, he's broke.

Mystery solved. Campaigns can't run on fairy dust. DVMRoberts 15:46, 15 April 2012 (EDT)