Let's say that Mitt Romney is the Republican Party presidential nominee in 2008 and loses. Santorum would be up against more serious candidates who decided against running because of Romney, such as Mitch Daniels, Jeb Bush (possibly, if his older brother still isn't a bad memory), Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie, and candidates from OTL benefiting from Romney's absence, such as Rick Perry, Tim Pawlenty, and Jon Huntsman. How could Santorum become the nominee in such a scenario? How do you think he'd do against Barack Obama in November? Who do you think he'd select as his Vice President?
 
I don't think Santorum could realistically become the nominee. The only reason he did so well OTL is because the Conservatives were trying to find anybody to counter Romney with and ultimately they failed,Santorum also ran in the most recent primaries and was unable to repeat his success.

I also personally feel that if Huckabee had ran,he would get the nomination. Bush would probably not run due to it having been only 4 years since his brother's Presidency and Christie would get ripped apart for being 'too Liberal'. If we remove those three then Perry might be able to pull something off,or even Gingrich.

Let's say he does somehow win the Republican nomination in 2012,I feel as if Obama would crush him simply because he holds some really unpopular views.
 
Outside of maybe Jon Huntsman, Romney was the best chance they had at taking the White House and when you think about that, that's pretty sad. Santorum would be put up as a sacrificial lamb if everyone else running failed to secure the nomination and be crushed by Obama.
 
I think Obama would do slightly better electorally in November. Also, yeah, who would Santorum pick to be his running mate? Maybe Mitch Daniels or some moderate pro-establishment politician?
 
He would be crushed. Something like this.

Screen Shot 2016-07-24 at 6.29.11 PM.png
 
Also, yeah, who would Santorum pick to be his running mate? Maybe Mitch Daniels or some moderate pro-establishment politician?
Tom Tancredo? They agreed on multiple issues in OTL.
Maybe Marco Rubio? For obvious reasons (youth, energy/charisma, Hispanic/Latino vote). But I think he'd still be considered a conservative in 2012.
 
It was a really weak field of potential nominees. Of the guys who actually won primaries, I think the Republicans' best option was Gingrich, who at least would have shaken things up a bit.

Huckabee could have run the nomination and the general election, but when he didn't run, Santorum became the social conservative candidate by default. The Socon candidate is now a feature in Republican presidential primaries, they always walk away with about a quarter of the primary vote but nothing else, and of the several we have seen really only Huckabee showed signs of being capable of breaking out of that box.

Santorum did win four contested congressional and Senatorial elections, though nothing since 2000, which counts for something. Gingrich hasn't won any general elections since 1996. Romney won exactly one general election contest in his life.
 
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