Struggling in polls, Santorum underlines NH commitment
October 27th, 2011
05:17 PM ET
11 years ago

Struggling in polls, Santorum underlines NH commitment

Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Despite anemic numbers in recent state polls, former Sen. Rick Santorum emphasized his commitment to New Hampshire Thursday with an announcement that 83 supporters in the state would serve as his primary captains.

In a statement Santorum, who has called himself the true conservative in the GOP field, implied some political observers thought he might be too socially conservative for New Hampshire.

"Many have said to me that I should skip New Hampshire because the state does not 'match-up' with my brand of conservatism," Santorum said in the statement. "Today's announcement proves the nay-sayers wrong, because New Hampshire Republicans are looking for a candidate who is committed to their state, who speaks from the heart, and speaks the truth about the challenges facing our nation."

Many of the more socially conservative GOP candidates have focused their efforts on Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus. In fact, Santorum's campaign announced this week the candidate would achieve his goal of holding public events in each of Iowa's 99 counties.

In a CNN/Time/ORC poll released Thursday, Santorum polled at 1% among Republicans and Independents in New Hampshire.

Santorum has visited the state 25 times, according to his campaign. Staffer Mike Biundo, a New Hampshire native, was recently elevated to become Santorum's national campaign manager.

Also see:

Perry may pass on debates

Gingrich builds staff in New Hampshire


Bachmann files to run in New Hampshire


Filed under: 2012 • New Hampshire • Rick Santorum
soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. Anonymous

    I saw "commitment" in the headline and assumed Mr. Frothy was finally getting the mental health treatment he so obviously needs.

    October 27, 2011 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |
  2. Seth

    The only news-worthy part of this article is that Rick San torum has 83 supporters in New Hampshire.

    October 27, 2011 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |
  3. Wire Palladin, S. F.

    Santorum is a single issue candidate who should do well in Mississippi. Mississippians in the state legislature think that a person's birthday is when the egg is fertilized.

    October 27, 2011 05:37 pm at 5:37 pm |
  4. Donkey Party

    How can the GOP-baggers like Senator Buttmilk ever utter the words "liberty" and "freedom", when all they want to do is impose their brand of radical social conservatism on the rest of us? Practice your crazy social conservative "values" on your own, keep it out of politics.

    October 27, 2011 05:43 pm at 5:43 pm |
  5. thomas

    "liberty" and "freedom", social conservative "values"

    Rick Santorum is a true freedom fighter , he will go down on history !

    October 27, 2011 07:29 pm at 7:29 pm |
  6. If I had a penny for every stupid Republican I'd be rich!

    He's struggling because no one like him or his ideas. He fooled the people of Pennsylvania a couple of time, but they finally wised up and gave him the boot.

    October 27, 2011 07:31 pm at 7:31 pm |
  7. S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

    I don't think that most people are a part of his brand of conservatism. His numbers are small because no one really can connect with him. He doesn't seem that personable to me. That fact that he was defeated in his home state also says something about him as well. If he had resigned, I think that his numbers would be slightly better.

    October 27, 2011 07:37 pm at 7:37 pm |
  8. texan

    He needs to hang in---- the Democrats need him.

    October 27, 2011 07:39 pm at 7:39 pm |
  9. AB

    Rick Santorum should just hang it up and quit. He has no plan for solving the country's economic or fiscal problems. He is way down in the a number of polls–in the single digits. He has a slim to none chance of getting the nomination.

    October 27, 2011 08:06 pm at 8:06 pm |
  10. Jim in MS

    I am one person in Mississippi who thinks Santorum is way too socially conservative. Since he can't even get reelected in his home state, why does he think he can win a national campaign?

    October 27, 2011 08:13 pm at 8:13 pm |
  11. clarke

    He should save his time and peoples money by pulling out. It is not going to happen.

    October 27, 2011 08:33 pm at 8:33 pm |
  12. once upon a horse

    Santorum needs to do a "Sarah Palin" and just quit this...save some folks some money and go back to his position on FoxNews. He has about as much chance to be POTUS as I do.

    October 27, 2011 08:39 pm at 8:39 pm |