Santorum faces uphill climb after impressive Iowa finish

The morning after the Iowa caucuses, winner Mitt Romney appeared on the major network television morning shows and numerous cable outlets. Rick Santorum, who registered a win of his own with a stunning come from behind finish just eight votes short of Romney, was nowhere to be seen.

For someone who needs as much "free media" as Santorum does to turn his win into momentum for the upcoming contests in New Hampshire and South Carolina, that lack of visibility was puzzling. (He did make several television appearances later in the day).

Santorum, the newly anointed coalition conservative challenger to Romney, faces a daunting operational challenge of trying to turn his electoral success in Iowa into kind of campaign machine could compete with the Romney campaign juggernaut.

Romney spent millions in Iowa, and Santorum just a tiny fraction of that, with some reports putting Romney's cost per vote arond $50 to Santorum less than a dollar. And those money differences show up in all kinds of ways.

Full Iowa results
Iowa entrance poll results
Full GOP Primary Results

On caucus day, Santorum's insurgent campaign appeared to be caught off-guard by their man's newfound status as the not-Romney flavor-of-the-week when it actually mattered.

Romney began the day with a well orchestrated rally in Des Moines, complete with an introduction from a sitting US senator, a professional stage, a row of American flags and plenty of space for the dozens of cameras capturing his every mood. In short, it was presidential.

Republican presidential hopeful and former Sen. Rick Santorum

/ Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Santorum, on the other hand, spoke in the gym of a Christian school where the staging of a meager podium and space for the media was put together by a network cameraman and a school administrator who did so out of pure necessity.

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Santorum did spend the previous day moving from packed event to packed event, each one appearing to be more like what could be expected of the winner than the last.

During a break, the former Pennsylvania senator tended to campaign responsibilities (read: "fundraising") while sitting in the back seat of his truck parked outside of a hotel where he had just spoken. He is obviously packing a lot into his schedule as the success in Iowa puts his campaign into high gear, ready for it or not.

Romney himself highlighted Santorum's challenge in an interview with Bob Schieffer for Face to Face, the new weekly webcast with the Face the Nation host.

"It's so hard to tell what's going to happen from the other contenders, whether they'll be able to get the funding and the ground teams they need to go on to the subsequent states," Romney said.

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"Rick Santorum spent a lot of time as you know here in Iowa, he's now going to have to build that support elsewhere, but I don't think he's at ground zero elsewhere. He's been working those other places, he's got good support and I think he'll be a real contender," he added.

At the Santorum school event, a sophisticated camera crew the campaign had hired captured his remarks. The same crew was at Santorum's election night rally said they were there "shooting a commercial."

Santorum's impressive finish Tuesday and fundraising efforts could mean the former Pennsylvania senator is about to step up his game.

Full CBS News coverage: Rick Santorum

39 Photos

Rick Santorum on the campaign trail

[Tired_of_liars]

by economicterror January 5, 2012 5:32 AM EST
58...63...what do facts and truth matter?????/
--------------------------------------
They do not matter to you, they only matter when someone else is talking. Hypocrite

[matzeklein]

Many GOP candidates profess to be Christians like Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul. But where is Christ? After listening to them I have to say as a preacher from abroad that there is a fundamental issue missing that affects everything.

Watch my video: A German Preacher's Thoughts on American Christians and Politics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpLYq525SpM

[jdaryyl]

He is designed to fail... this is about drama...

Can you say CrOoKeD? This guy is as honest as a 3 dolar bill.

[jdaryyl]

Facts, are stubborn

http://www.awareandprepare.com/rick-santorum-voted-most-corrupt-politican-in-2006/

[franknkissy]

As an Italian-American i can assure 'Rick' Santorum that he will gain as much opprobrium as a Blsck man would - only more so as even many Blacks jump on the Anti-Santorum Wagon ! Having spent time in a Mental Health facility where i was told to change my expressive emotional Italian nature in order to fit in to American society - I must let 'Rick' know that there are some in the U.S.A. who appreciate Multi-Culturalism for everyone but those of Italian Heritage who believe yet in Family & Good Food & Religious Faith ! Go For It - Mr. Santorum ! ( Oh Yes - I stood against the Foreign Shrinks and earned my College Baccalaureate at 63 years of age !

[franknkissy]

Oh Yes - i do at times become manic and make some simple mistakes - I earned my University Degree in 2007 at 58 years of age ! Becoming a little more than the Automobile mechanic ( which assuredly is good & honorable work )which a young potential marine corps candidate told me is where they send Italian-Americans - there & front-line Rifle Companies !

[Raptorsmasher]

Rick Santorum has no chance of winning!

[JoefromNC]

He's against abortion, for ANY reason, except, of course in his OWN life.

[longtree-2009]

on another news site, there are ethics violations that are coming into the light of day. read it quickly but seems that ricky boy is a tad dirty, dusty at the very least. if true, santorum is toast.

[greenlantern1]

Is an anchor baby a citizen?
A fetus?
Clifford Spencer

[RepubsSuck]

Rick, Be careful what you say about Mitt because he won't allow you to be his VP when you lose...