Skip to main content


Santorum endorses Romney

Endorsement is decidedly lukewarm.

Late last night, former presidential contender, Rick Santorum gave Romney's candidacy his endorsement essentially on the grounds that he is not Obama. The endorsement is decidedly lukewarm. 

Santorum's endorsement of Romney isn't exactly ringing, but it still counts.

Santorum's endorsement of Romney isn't exactly ringing, but it still counts.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Santorum wrote in paragraph 13 of an email to his supporters, "We both agree that President Obama must be defeated. The task will not be easy. It will require all hands on deck if our nominee is to be victorious. Governor Romney will be that nominee and he has my endorsement and support to win this the most critical election of our lifetime."

Santorum also joins the ranks of Romney's former rivals who have made less-than-enthusiastic endorsements of the former Massachusetts governor. Many Republicans feel they are settling for Mitt Romney, and this is most electable trait is that he is an alternative to Obama. 

The degree of separation between the two presidential candidates is also questionable. President Obama claims that "Romneycare" was the original blueprint for Obamacare, and Romney was originally expected to do well against Obama precisely because of his reputation as a moderate who could win over the middle.

Challengers have also criticized Romney on the basis of abortion issues and job creation. 
However an energized Republican base, led by the tea party, pulled Romney onto unfamiliar ground - far to the right. Now, facing the inevitability of a general election, Romney is struggling to pivot his campaign to the middle, where the victory lies, without alienating the right. 

Typifying this dilemma, Santorum refused to endorse Romney until he had the opportunity to meet with the presumptive nominee. The two met on Friday in Pittsburgh. Santorum wrote, ""I felt that it was completely impossible for me to even consider an endorsement until after a meeting to discuss issues critical to those of us who often feel our voices are not heard by the establishment: social conservatives, tea-party supporters, lower and middle income working families."

Santorum asked Romney to "add more conservative leaders as an integral part of his team." 

He added, "While I had concerns about Governor Romney making a case as a candidate about fighting against Obamacare, I have no doubt if elected he will work with a Republican Congress to repeal it and replace it with a bottom up, patient, not government, driven system."

Meanwhile, Romney accepted Santorum's endorsement, saying "Senator Santorum and I share an absolute commitment to that goal, just as we share an absolute commitment to reversing the failing policies of the Obama Administration, from its assault on freedom of conscience to its feckless foreign policy." 

© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM. 

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention:
The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Santorum, Romney, endorsement, election, 2012, presidential, Obama

NEWSLETTERS »

E-mail:       Zip Code: (ex. 90001)
Today's Headlines

Sign up for a roundup of the day's top stories. 5 days / week. See Sample

Rate This Article

Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 4 of 4 Comments

  1. Regina Raighn
    1 year ago

    When the Republicans were in power, what did they do for the Pro-Life movement? Nothing, what makes you think they will do anything to stop abortion? They are liars and thieves. It is getting worse, with Romney and the condoners. Everyday Romney is lying. His nose is getting longer and longer - poor Pinochio.

  2. techwreck
    1 year ago

    It is not clear whether Rick gave Romney an tepid endorsement, or the reporter just chose to characterize it as such. But, what is clear is that we must defeat Obama in order to preserve our country. ...... Anyone, reporter or ex-candidate, who is unenthusiastic about that goal and the Romney campaign just doesn't understand how much trouble this country's economy is in and how ill equipped Obama is to deal with it. For example, those folks who still cling to Ron Paul are in la-la land, backing a candidate who has even less chance of dealing with the nation's problems than Obama. ...... Romney is not the perfect candidate (I did not support him), but he is the only one still standing that has a prayer of taking this country in a positive direction.

  3. Domingo Encarnacion
    1 year ago

    From my point of view I wanted Santorum to be the next president after I heard that Mitt Romny chose someone gay to work with him. I do not know what Romny thinks about the gay right issue. I just know that every body has rights, but the rights that these people are asking are not rights. They are a violation of God's principles, an abomination. We should not give ourselves to the idea of providing such kind of rights that is not based on natural laws. That thinking is an animalistic kind of thinking. I love everyone, but I do not endorse ideas that are not based on the right principles. And if I love everyone that means I will tell them the truth. And the truth is that gays people needs help so that they could live a normal life. I believe Santorum and Mitt Romny could organize groups where these people could receive help trying to find where the problem started when they came to believe that they were gays. To be gay is not a cause of celebraation or something to be proud about. Is a disfunctional state that must be researched in order to find the cause of why people get into that behavior. Thank you for haven given the opportunity to express my thoughts.

  4. Rob
    1 year ago

    This implications of this article is that Romney has to become someone he is not.

Leave a Comment

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment


Newsletter Sign Up

Daily Readings

Reading 1, Sirach 5:1-8
Do not put your confidence in your money or say, 'With this I ... Read More

Psalm, Psalms 1:1-2, 3-4, 6
How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked and ... Read More

Gospel, Mark 9:41-50
'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong ... Read More

Saint of the Day

May 23 Saint of the Day

St. John Baptist Rossi
May 23: This holy priest was born in 1698 at the village of Voltaggio in ... Read More




Marketplace

Click Here

The Final Harvest
Final Harvest is the most important work since publication of his ... Read More


Click Here

Baptism Accessories
Christening Wardrobe has a variety of christening accessories for ... Read More