Wealthy Santorum backer pledges continued support
CBS
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's path forward this presidential race is a little unclear, but the one constant in his bid is Foster Friess, who promises to carry him beyond the Florida primary.
Friess, a wealthy businessman, created the Red, White and Blue Fund, a super PAC supporting Santorum. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the fund has spent almost $2 million this election cycle to help elect Santorum.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Friess said "I'm committed to Rick Santorum, and I'm going to be giving more to Rick Santorum."
New campaign finance rules allow unlimited contributions to outside groups, often known as super PACs. Super PACs are allowed to spend on advertising to help a candidate, but are legally barred from coordinating with the campaign.
A born-again Christian, Freiss has a history of donating large sums of money to conservative causes that promote small government, privatizing education and religious-based charities.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Friess said Santorum "will be the frontrunner soon."
"Everybody likes him. His Iowa experience should speak loud and clear," Friess told Bloomberg. "He went to 381 different townhall meetings. People really relate to him. He has a love for the blue-collar guy. He was one of the only ones who would be able to defeat a Democratic candidate."
But planning and implementing a successful strategy to make Santorum the front-runner is more difficult than writing a check. Santorum's efforts in Florida are receiving little traction and questions have been raised about the future of his Florida campaign. Hotsheet reported earlier today that he is undecided how long he will stay there ahead of Tuesday's primary. But Santorum told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday afternoon that he will stay in the state through Sunday.
"We just weren't going to go out and spend every dime" in Florida, he said.
Florida is a difficult state to campaign. Door-to-door retail politics aren't as effective as they are in Iowa and New Hampshire because of Florida's large geography and population. Furthermore, it's expensive. The Sunshine state has ten large media markets, including some of the largest ones in the country.
Santorum attempted to make a strong play against leaders Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich in the state (where the winner receives all the delegates), but with little success. Santorum is battling with polling numbers near the single digits.
Santorum has spent a precious five days in the state trying to make a dent with voters, instead laying the groundwork in states where he has a better chance, which is something Rep. Ron Paul is doing.
Friess recognizes the challenges of Florida. He said he will continue to support Santorum, but not likely in Florida. "It's just a matter of when and how much," he told the Wall Street Journal.
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Santorum is resonating with voters because he brings sanity to this nominating process. He stands his ground on Conservative principles; principles that allow him to bring true, historical remedies to America's deep troubles. These troubles are rooted in the attempts to "transform" our country into a Statist / Socialist nation.
Santorum is staying alive because America has returned the election process to the voice of the people. Freedom of Speech, not money-monopolies, will help balance the advertising campaigns, that up until the Citizens United SCOTUS ruling, tilted toward candidates that could solicit monies from power brokers.
"NO nation ancient or modern ever lost the liberty of freely speaking, writing, or publishing their sentiments but forthwith lost their Liberty in general and became slaves. LIBERTY and SLAVERY! how odious is one! how abominable the other! Liberty is universal redemption, joy, and happinesss; but servitude is absolute reprobation and everlasting perdition in politics" (New York Weekly Journal November 12 & 19, 1733).
Freiss giving so much money to someone such as Santorum proves positive that you do not have to be intelligent to possess a great deal of money.
I agree with Friess! I don't think Santorum should be counted out yet. His popularity is slowly and steadily rising. Romney and Gingrich shouldn't get too complacent because Santorum is gaining on them. I think soon he'll have his turn at the top of the polls.
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I agree ... except for a different reason.
I want to see M0R0NGELICAL christians waste their money on
STUPID things. Betting on Santorum is like wagering on a
three legged horse.
Rick Santorum has repeatedly explained why they brought the baby home. He has given a very reasonable explanation but you refuse to accept it. You just continue on with your crap and your attempt to make him seem strange and foolish.
It won't work! You're only making yourself look strange and foolish and if you continue hopefully CBS will someday get so many reports on you that they will be forced to find a way to permanently lock you out of these comment boards!
"Greed is the root of all evil"
Newtsarmy2012.com
Babies all around!!!