If Rick Santorum Runs Again, He’ll Try to Be Less ‘Crazy’ and ‘Dumb’

Gage Skidmore (CC-BY-SA)

Former Pennsylvania senator and tea party favorite Rick Santorum told NBC News he’s not sure if he’ll run for president in 2016, but if he does he’ll try to be more palatable:

Santorum’s campaign in 2012 was largely defined by his anti-abortion stances and statements regarding contraception and other “crazy stuff that doesn’t have anything to do with anything” as Santorum put it. He blamed himself for opening his mouth and saying “dumb things.”

Although he now has critical words for his own campaign, Santorum was fairly successful. His mix of Republican-style populism and social conservatism won the popular vote in 11 states. He had a big fundraising disadvantage going up against eventual nominee Mitt Romney but held on longer than expected and came in second in both the popular vote nationwide and the delegate count.

Santorum spoke this week to a loyal crowd in the early primary state of South Carolina following a fundraiser in Arizona.

So what did he say in 2012 that might be deemed crazy or dumb? Speaking to a gay soldier, Santorum called the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy “social experimentation” and “tragic.” Santorum, who opposes abortion under any circumstances, was asked if he would make an exception if his own daughter was raped and sought to terminate the pregnancy. He said he would counsel her to keep the “horribly created” baby and “make the best out of a bad situation.”

There’s a lot more where that came from, but to be honest most of it consists of poorly chosen words, often quoted out of context, that the candidate used to explain his deeply held beliefs. Santorum’s problem is that most of the nation doesn’t share his convictions. If he does run, he’ll probably not change his views on abortion or homosexuality but will seek to downplay their significance to his candidacy.

— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer