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Santorum Campaign Press Release - ICYMI: "Romney Campaign's Reputation For Destroying, Not Creating. And Nobody Loves a Death Star" - Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal

February 12, 2012


"Mr. Santorum Is Liked. He Has Real Indignation About What's Happened To America, And He Brings Passion To His Ideas About Reform"

Verona, PA - In her most recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Peggy Noonan outlines the critical flaw in the Romney candidacy - that his campaign, rather than defending their candidate's record, instead chooses to destroy their opponent and the dangerous implications that has for the entire Party in 2012.

"LOW TURNOUT AND THE BIG TUNE-OUT

By: Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203824904577212832724317096.html?mod=djemEditorialPage_t

The Romney campaign is better at dismantling than mantling. They're better at taking opponents apart than building a compelling candidate of their own. They do not seem capable of deepening his meaning, making his stands and statements more textured and interesting. He comes across like a businessman who studied the data and came up with the formula that will make the deal.

A particular problem is that he betrays little indignation at any of our problems and their causes. He's always sunny, pleasant, untouched by anger. This leaves people thinking, "Excuse me, but we are in crisis. Financially and culturally we fear our country is going down the drain. This guy doesn't seem to be feeling it. So why's he running? Maybe he thinks it's his personal destiny to be president. But if the animating passion of his candidacy is about him, not us, who needs him?"

Mitt Romney's aides are making the classic mistake of thinking the voters want maturity, serenity and a jolly spirit. What they want is a man who knows what time it is, who has a passion to reform our country, and who yet holds these qualities within a temperament that is mature, serene and jolly. Newt Gingrich has half the package: He has a passion to reform, but it exists inside a crazy suit. Mitt has no particular passion within an obviously sane suit.

Which leads to Rick Santorum. Nobody in the conservative base hates Rick. Newt is hated by many and Mitt by some. Mr. Santorum is liked. He has real indignation about what's happened to America, and he brings passion to his ideas about reform.

He's got little money, little organization-there's no broad assumption he can pull it off. And by the time the Romney campaign is done dismantling him, he may have some people who hate him. But this will only underscore the Romney campaign's reputation for destroying, not creating. And nobody loves a Death Star...

Rick Santorum, Santorum Campaign Press Release - ICYMI: "Romney Campaign's Reputation For Destroying, Not Creating. And Nobody Loves a Death Star" - Peggy Noonan, The Wall Street Journal Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/300190

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