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A New Contender Is Jumping Into The 2016 GOP Race – And He Could Have An Advantage Over His Opponents
Former Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Santorum broke his silence regarding a 2016 presidential run in a fundraising email sent to supporters Wednesday.
“This afternoon,” he wrote, “I will formally announce my candidacy for President of the United States!”
Subsequent media reports indicate ABC’s George Stephanopoulos will interview the newly minted candidate in an exclusive presentation Wednesday afternoon.
Santorum – whose strong showing in the 2012 Republican nomination process might give him an edge over some of his fellow candidates – has been hinting at a follow-up White House bid for months.
In 2014, he pointed out that, despite a second-place primary finish just two years prior, he was not on the short list of likely 2016 nominees among many political insiders.
“America loves an underdog,” he affirmed. “We’re definitely the underdog in this race.”
His underdog status seems to have persisted into 2015. A look at recent polling data shows Santorum languishing at the bottom of the Republican list with roughly two percent of respondents expressing support for his candidacy. Furthermore, at least one prominent family that endorsed him in 2012 has switched allegiance ahead of the 2016 race.
The Duggar family, embattled stars of the TLC program 19 Kids and Counting, announced they will back Mike Huckabee in the Republican primary.
Of course, primary season is just getting started; and Santorum has heretofore not even been an official candidate. As ABC News’ Ben Gittleson pointed out, the last two Republican presidential nominees – John McCain and Mitt Romney – were only able to snag a primary win during their second attempt.
Does Rick Santorum stand a chance in the crowded Republican primary race? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
This post originally appeared on Western Journalism – Equipping You With The Truth
Source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/a-new-contender-is-jumping-into-the-2016-gop-race-and-he-could-have-an-advantage-over-his-opponents/
