LEE’S SUMMIT, FEBRUARY 7, 2012 – Rick Santorum is on his way to a landslide victory in Missouri’s [so called] beauty contest. At this time, with 99% of the precincts reporting Santorum (138,680 – 55.2%) has a commanding lead over Mitt Romney (63,709 – 25%).
Santorum won the contest at both ends of the state. Saint Louis voted 45% for Rick Santorum, and 26% for Mitt Romney. Kansas City was split 46% for Santorum, and 31% for Romney. Cole County was Santorum’s as well at 47% compared to Romney’s 32%. Jackson County had Santorum at 49.5% to Romney’s 31.5%. The cities went for Santorum, as did the rest of the State.
Why is Missouri so much for Santorum over Romney? To me it is simple; Mitt Romney has not shown me that he can move the country along fiscally conservative lines. His success in Massachusetts is more a comparison of where the state was prior to Romney than compared to where it could or perhaps should have been.
The issue of Romney-care is still a major concern for me as a voter. I know that as a State Massachusetts has the right to put in a central health insurance program. But it speaks to the man’s priorities. We are facing terrible [true] unemployment figures that are calculated down to an unacceptable 8.3% nationwide.
Santorum lacks the gubernatorial experience that I would prefer in a candidate for president; but he was in the front lines during the largest change to welfare and establishing a balanced budget. He understands the struggles of a Rust Belt state trying to re-invent its economy; I just wish he had done more to drive those changes.
I’m not a social conservative but I understand his convictions and the courage it takes to stick by them and stand up for them. I get the sense with Rick Santorum that what you see is what you get. He is not the best speaker in the group; I think that honor belongs to Newt Gingrich – absent from Missouri’s ballot. He is not the most Presidential looking one; that belongs to Mitt Romney. He is not the most seasoned contender; that has to be Ron Paul (12% in the statewide primary).
Rick Santorum’s message seems to be one that resonates with the SHOW ME state. It is one of hard work, perseverance, and a moral certitude that comes across in a one on one session with voters, as well as in his debates.
The Missouri Caucuses will be next month, so many in the media have called this nothing more than a Beauty Contest because there are no delegates given to the winner. This beauty contest cost the taxpayers of Missouri over $7 million. The benefit of the Missouri primary is that it sends a message that the Midwest’s hard working breadbasket of the nation still puts fiscal conservatism at the top of the list, and tells the moderates that Missouri has strong fundamental opinions.
I look forward to the Missouri Caucuses, and in the next month I will make up my mind about who gets my vote, but most importantly I’ll know exactly why I made my decision. The important thing is that everyone should strive to understand the position of each candidate, how they match with our own belief system and then let our vote speak for us.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Lee’s Summit Conservative
