Santorum surges among California GOP voters

[RandySF]

SACRAMENTO -- California's Republican voters have warmed up to the surging candidacy of Rick Santorum but also are expressing growing dissatisfaction with the field of GOP presidential candidates, according to a Field Poll released Wednesday.

The former Pennsylvania senator is preferred by 25 percent of the state's registered Republicans, a turn-around that has come partly at the expense of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose support in the state has plunged.

Santorum was supported by just 2 percent of California GOP voters in a Field Poll taken last November. His growing popularity since then has been driven in part by those who said they identify with the tea party or classify themselves as strongly conservative.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remained Republicans' top choice, getting support from 31 percent.


http://www.mercurynews.com/presidentelect/ci_20020294

[Firebrand Gary]

1. The GOP LOVES Santorum here in Sacramento.

The enthusiasm is almost palpable. It almost makes me a little nervous, they are excited about him like no other.

[Amonester]

2. They droped the K-Street adulterer for the frothy substance...

Now they're all 'high' again (won't last long, once they'll face reality again: unelectable from women majority).

[gateley]

3. Have they LISTENED to this guy? What is WRONG with people? nt

[The Genealogist]

4. Not exactly sure what is wrong with Californians

I can understand Missourians, at least SW Missourians, going for Frothman. SW Missouri is bright red fundevangelical territory. Frothman is right up their alley, with his reactionary, hyper-conservative social message.

My understanding of California is that a lot of Okies and Arkies went out to California, to places like Bakersfield, during the Great Depression/Dustbowl years. While the adults of that era are likely mostly gone now, their descendants remain, and often retain their ancestor's social conservatism. I do not have any links to back up this assertion, more like anecdotal information, what Californians have told me California politics are like and why they are the way they are.

[provis99]

5. the California coastline is more liberal than the interior.

the same phenomenon is going on in Oregon and Washington, with the coasts being liberal and the rural interior as right wing as anybody. And Orange County in California is the most notoriously Republican county in the nation.

[Kalidurga]

6. Can we please...

refrain from using the phrase Santorum surges. Thanks.

[Rex]

7. Surges?

Is that like a forceful ooze? When I think of...eh...Sant'o'surge reminds me of the gooy shit inside my old stretch armstrong.

[Devil_Fish]

8. I found a surge of santorum on my bed sheets this morning.

[dimbear]

9. We don't play any part in the election except as a cash cow. CA goes to Obama.

Republican dollars may go to the Rickster, makes sense. Lots of Catholics in CA.

That about the Okies upthread is pretty much dead on. Grapes of Wrath.

[CAVoter68]

10. Activist Alert! - A vote for Santorum in California is a vote for Obama in November

Hi All,

For those of you who remember (or can Google) what we did with Bill Simon in the 2002 Gubernatorial primary against Richard Riordan in California, I urge you (and urge you to encourage your Democratic & Green Party friends) to re-register as a Republican immediately and vote for Santorum in the 2012 GOP Republican Presidential Primary.

Before anyone replies with criticism, please allow me to explain two points:

1) The California Democratic party is strong enough to nominate effective candidates without your vote. President Obama will certainly be nominated as our candidate no matter what you or California as a whole does. Feel free to re-register as a Democrat or Green after the primary.

2) While California has changed election rules for "open primaries", these new rules do not apply in this GOP Presidential Primary in June 2012.

Santorum has no chance of beating President Obama in the November election, but Mitt Romney does. When true progressive activists switched parties in 2002 to vote for wacko Bill Simon in his GOP gubernatorial primary against moderate former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordon, we ensured the victory of Democrat Gray Davis as Governor. All major polls predicted that Riordon would have beat Davis, but our activism saddled the California right wing with their wacko of choice as a candidate.

Please think about this, and if you understand and agree, please spread the word and re-register at least temporaily as a Republican if you are an eligible voter in California.

Thank you for your time.