Rick Santorum fighting for attention in South Carolina

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum and his wife Karen walk behind a bagpiper at the GOP Ames Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa, Aug. 13, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

BLUFFTON, S.C. -- Rick Santorum hasn't been invited to the premier political event of this state's Labor Day weekend. The back of the pack candidate for the Republican presidential nomination is miffed, but undaunted.

Santorum's frustration at being excluded from a Labor Day forum that Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., is hosting for GOP presidential hopefuls came bubbling up as the former Pennsylvania senator hopscotched the state, which will host the second presidential primary contest early next year, on a busy weekend of campaign stops.

"So Jim doesn't invite me -- he invites Rudy Giuliani who is not a conservative and isn't even in the race?" Santorum said to reporters. "To me it just doesn't make any sense but my job is to continue and be in South Carolina on Monday."

Referring to another former congressional colleague who is helping to organize the Labor Day event, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, Santorum added: "Steve King said it would be a great mistake if somebody passed on the Iowa Straw Poll -- well I didn't. I finished fourth and the guy that finished fourth in the Iowa Straw Poll isn't invited to his forum."

Under the rules of the forum, candidates had to register at least five percent in the Real Clear Politics average of presidential polls in order to score an invitation. Santorum is at two percent.

Giuliani has the poll numbers to qualify for an invitation but didn't get one because he failed on another criterion: Only declared candidates can participate in the Monday forum, which will feature former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, and two Georgians: former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and businessman Herman Cain.

While his rivals take the stage in Columbia on Monday afternoon, Santorum plans to be 90 miles to the northwest, marching in the Simpsonville, S.C., Labor Day parade -- his second of the day.

Santorum is keeping a busy schedule in the state, whose evangelical voters he sees as a natural audience for his socially conservative message. On Sunday, he plans to visit churches.

He packed four stops into his Saturday itinerary, starting with a breakfast in Goose Creek, S.C., and ending with a football game in Charleston. Before the game, he spoke at an American Legion, a Mexican restaurant and a Golden Corral. His largest audience: about 130 voters.

"We are running a very very very low budget campaign," Santorum said. "If you want someone who can accomplish a lot on a little, you want to elect Rick Santorum."

39 Photos

Rick Santorum on the campaign trail

[raflin1]

Google "Santorum."

You'll see what this man "stands for."

[American1111]

So, America forgets we govern ourselves. It seems that Americans would like to give up their rights and to be governed by only one person. This comes from everyone wants to blame only one person for the situation America is in. We all have a voice, which is why we have representatives Congress (state and federal), senate (state and federal), Governors, mayors, and Councilmen, so on. If Americans forget this then we should give up our rights as a democracy and become a dictatorship. If you find that your representatives are making decisions that are not of the people and for the privileged few, then you need to vote them out. Representatives are just that, they are to be of the people in their area. Listen to the people and hear their concerns and needs. Carry the message of the people, to meet with other representatives. Then to deliver that message to other representatives and to hear the concerns and needs of others in order to come to an agreed fare solution to the needs that benefits all. This basic form of government has seemed to of been lost and forgotten. Replace by Corruption and greed. American's do not exercise their rights to participate in their own right to govern themselves or vote.
P.S. this message is not to support or condemn any one political group, more so, as reminder of who is really in charge. Also for better or worse who's to blame. You have an opinion, that is fine, but more so you have a right you should be exercising. Don't blame others for your own weakness. Stand up and take back your rights!

[msimamaji]

Where are the Republican statesmen when you need them?
In Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey, Republican governors had a chance to show how the GOP actually makes things work. Like Rick Perry, they could have seceded and told FEMA to get the H... out of their state. Like Saraha Palin, when offered federal aid, they could have said "No, thank you. We'll do it ourselves."
But no. Instead, like little piggies, they were first to rush to the infamous "Government teat." (To borrow a pharse from infamous Republican budget cutter Alan Simpson.)
Now of course, they will face competition for limited funds from the Republcan governors of Louisiana, Alabama and Florida - and perhaps even Rick Perry from Texas.
For real, is this any way to run a Tea Party????
If Rick Santorum is for real, let him give his fellow GOP governor Hell for betraying the Republcian cause. If he doesn't start attacking Christ Christie right and left, then let's declare him a girlie-man, knee-jerk liberal.

[Former_Marine_Sgt]

Santorum, take your frothy self and go home. You've no chance of winning the nomination. You're not even up to the level of 'also ran'.

Go home oh frothy one. Your mixture is not what people want on thier ballot.

[rnrstar]

Maybe there's a dog in SC to give you some love Rick.

[pr_boxer]

What a pathetic candidate this Santorum is. Why would anyone put their money up to support such a loser.

Go away Ricky, no one wants you!