The Other McCain

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SANTORUM EXPRESS UPDATE: Pulls Even With Bachmann in New Iowa Poll, Gains Endorsement by Influential Pastor

Posted on | December 12, 2011 | 29 Comments

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum moved into a tie for fifth place with Michele Bachmann in the latest survey of Iowa voters, the first poll to indicate an increase in the former Pennsylvania senator’s support with three weeks to go before the Jan. 3 caucuses.

The poll by American Research Group, conducted Dec. 8-11, showed GOP front-runner Newt Gingrich’s support decrease to 22% from 27% a month earlier, while Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are now tied for second at 17% and Rick Perry is fourth with 13%. Santorum and Bachmann were tied for fifth at 7%.

“The ARG poll . . . at least partially reflects Saturday’s Republican presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa,” The Hill newspaper reported. “The Republican candidates went after Gingrich hard at the debate, criticizing him as a lifelong politician and for his multiple marriages.”

Santorum also added an important endorsement Monday from Rev. Terry Amann said, a pastor at Walnut Creek Community Church in the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights. Amann is a member of the board of an influential Iowa social conservative group, the Family Leader.

In a statement released by the Santorum campaign (see full text below), Amman said: “By visiting all 99 counties in our state, Rick Santorum has proven that he will do whatever it takes to get the job done. He will be a refreshing change in Washington.”

Amman called Santorum “a powerful advocate for the unborn, and he has been a strong voice and excellent example for traditional marriage,” and praised his foreign-policy experience. “He understands the nuances and complexities of the Middle East, and of the threats posed by Islamic Jihad.”

The endorsement by Amman follows endorsements Santorum has recently received by Sioux City pastor Cary Gordon, conservative philanthropist Foster Friess and by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz.


* * SANTORUM CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE * *

INFLUENTIAL DES MOINES-AREA MINISTER
JOINS THE FIGHT WITH SANTORUM

Urbandale, IA – Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum announced that he has received the endorsement of influential Des Moines-area minister, Rev. Terry Amann.
Rev. Terry Amann said: “I am a pastor at Walnut Creek Community Church in Windsor Heights. I also serve as a pastor to the board of directors of the Family Leader. I do not speak on behalf of these two organizations, but as a private and concerned citizen.
I have been involved in politics for several years, having worked with the Mike Huckabee presidential campaign during the 2008 election cycle, and with the Tim Pawlenty campaign earlier this year.
Today, I am enthusiastically endorsing Senator Rick Santorum for President of the United States.
Rick Santorum is a humble person of solid character and integrity. He has been a powerful advocate for the unborn, and he has been a strong voice and excellent example for traditional marriage. On all points, Rick Santorum is a solid conservative — both socially and fiscally — and he has the political record to prove it. He also knows that we need to cut spending, cut taxes, and create jobs in order to stimulate the American economy. Senator Santorum is also well-versed in foreign policy. He understands the nuances and complexities of the Middle East, and of the threats posed by Islamic Jihad.
By visiting all 99 counties in our state, Rick Santorum has proven that he will do whatever it takes to get the job done. He will be a refreshing change in Washington. He is exactly what we need in a president. I urge all Iowans to carefully consider giving your support to Rick Santorum.”
Senator Santorum said: “I am honored to receive the endorsement of Rev. Amann. Terry is a true leader for traditional American family values not just in Des Moines, but throughout Iowa. I am blessed to receive his vote of confidence today and look forward to working with him as we drive toward victory in the Iowa caucuses.”
Rev. Terry Amann came to the Walnut Creek Community Church in 2007 and was recognized as a pastor in 2008. Rev. Amann has served as pastor in three denominational churches prior to Walnut Creek, as well as serving as a jail and prison chaplain for several years. Terry and his wife, Susan, are the proud parents of three daughters: Sarah, Rachel, and Samanthya.

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Category: Election 2012, Iowa, Rick Santorum

Comments

29 Responses to “SANTORUM EXPRESS UPDATE: Pulls Even With Bachmann in New Iowa Poll, Gains Endorsement by Influential Pastor”

  1. Monday Night Quick Hits | The Lonely Conservative
    December 12th, 2011 @ 9:58 pm

    […] but I do on this.Who will step up for capitalism?: I don’t know, maybe conservative bloggers?SANTORUM EXPRESS UPDATE: Pulls Even With Bachmann in New Iowa Poll, Gains Endorsement by Influential…: Conservative bloggers may have helped, but so did visiting all of Iowa’s 99 counties.[Harry] […]

  2. ThePaganTemple
    December 12th, 2011 @ 10:23 pm

    I don’t know that I would make such a big deal out of a politician rising in the polls by less than the margin of error.

  3. richard mcenroe
    December 12th, 2011 @ 10:30 pm

    But has he signed a pledge not commit adultery?  Hah, schmart guy, has he?

    BTW, here’s a few more pledges Newt needs to sign based on his past performance.  Feel free to add to them… http://tinyurl.com/6r24xav

  4. Mark Nehrbas
    December 12th, 2011 @ 10:32 pm

    I like Santorum  BUT have two nagging questions: 1) why did he support Alan Specter over the more conservative Toomey back when and (2) Can he really win when he lost his senate seat by 19%?

  5. Steve in TN
    December 12th, 2011 @ 10:40 pm

    Santorum trails Rick Perry by 6 points.

    Rick Perry.  Quick, ask Perry what Santorum’s first name is.  Think he’ll know? That Rick Perry.

    And Santorum is 6 points behind him.

  6. John
    December 12th, 2011 @ 10:45 pm

    “Gains endorsement from influential pastor.”

    When a pastor picks up a political banner, he must first lay down his cross.

  7. ThePaganTemple
    December 12th, 2011 @ 10:59 pm

    Sez who?

  8. ThePaganTemple
    December 12th, 2011 @ 11:00 pm

    “That Sanctorum feller, now what’s his name again? Oh yeah, it’s wait a minute don’t tell me, it’s-oh yeah, heck he’s got the same first name I do, it’s uh, uhhh”

  9. ThePaganTemple
    December 12th, 2011 @ 11:02 pm

    Okay, for the thousandth time-

    1. He supported Specter because Specter previously supported him which probably helped him to win in the first place.

    2. He lost in a year that was horrible for the GOP, in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a large margin, and to a Democrat who was sold as a conservative, pro-life son of a popular former conservative, pro-life Democrat governor.

  10. ThePaganTemple
    December 12th, 2011 @ 11:04 pm

    But has he signed a pledge not commit adultery?

    Yep, I think it was called a “marriage”.

  11. Zilla of the Resistance
    December 12th, 2011 @ 11:24 pm

    Good for him and good for us! I truly believe he is going to surprise a lot of naysayers and so called smart people.

  12. ThePaganTemple
    December 12th, 2011 @ 11:34 pm

    Bachmann is gonna whup his ass Mwahahahahahaaaaa

  13. Newt Romney: What A Mess! « Catholic Bandita
    December 12th, 2011 @ 11:38 pm

    […] the Santorum Express is gaining steam and it is beginning to put a dent in the polls. Republican presidential candidate […]

  14. Anonymous
    December 12th, 2011 @ 11:59 pm

    For Gingrich supporters (such as me) the incremental rise in the Iowa numbers of Santorum, Bachmann and Perry are all bad news; the gains are all taken from the same pool of voters available to Gingrich.  The only candidate taking votes from RINO squish Romney is the 1-percenter Huntsman, which is why Gingrich is doing everything he can do raise Huntsman’s profile.

  15. JewishOdysseus
    December 13th, 2011 @ 12:11 am

    From the official transcript from Sat night’s debate–here’s Mr. Courage O’Truthy Santorum on whether we shd speak the truth on the Fakestinians:

    “Is this a wise thing for us to do, to step forward and to engage this issue? Maybe it is. My guess is, at this point in time, it’s not. Not that we shouldn’t tell the truth, but we should be talking to our allies.”

    Whatta backbone on that guy!!

  16. richard mcenroe
    December 13th, 2011 @ 12:14 am

    I guess he needed multiple copies.

  17. richard mcenroe
    December 13th, 2011 @ 12:14 am

    Tell it to Bishop Odo.

  18. Professor Why
    December 13th, 2011 @ 2:37 am

    Congrats for your candidate of choice to get to 5th on that poll, Mr. McCain… Here’s hoping for an interesting contest there… Glad to see that my preferred candidate, ABO, is on the list… 😉

  19. Joe
    December 13th, 2011 @ 2:42 am

    At least he is heading in the right direction.  And he does not have Glenn Beck saying he is going to vote third party if he is the nominee. 

  20. Joe
    December 13th, 2011 @ 2:42 am

    1) he says the GOP pressured him and 2) probably not. 

  21. Joe
    December 13th, 2011 @ 2:46 am

    Pagan is correct on 1, wrong on 2.  Yes it was a bad year for the GOP, but Santorum got walloped by almost 20%.  That is a complete ass whoopin.  Santorum was not taking care of business as home, and I do not mean being a Robert Byrd whore.  I mean paying attention to and making sure he was attending to the voters.  Those little things add up.  You need a good staff to take care of people.  Santorum did not do it.  After two terms in the Senate you are in the job for life if you take care of your state. 

  22. Joe
    December 13th, 2011 @ 2:47 am

    Or you could look at the glass half empty and say Rick Perry is so bad off he is almost as low as Rick Santorum. 

    Okay that was mean.  Sorry. 

  23. ThePaganTemple
    December 13th, 2011 @ 11:17 am

    Yep, and he was doing good until that shameful utterance. With that, he officially scored near the bottom of the pack in my eyes, just ahead of Romney and quite a bit below Ron Paul, who at least had the good sense to keep his mouth shut about the issue.

  24. ThePaganTemple
    December 13th, 2011 @ 11:19 am

    Huntsman is polling over ten percent in New Hampshire, so I guess he is “heading in the right direction” as well.

  25. ThePaganTemple
    December 13th, 2011 @ 11:24 am

    I’m also right on number 2. It wasn’t just the Democrat voters, it was also the moderate squish Republican voters (especially in the Philly area) who in some cases voted against Santorum and in other cases didn’t bother to vote at all. Again, it was mostly anger at the GOP, as well at him for his more hard conservative views and actions, such as the lead he took on the Terri Schiavo fiasco. But it was mainly the view of him as symptomatic with what was wrong with the GOP at that time in the voters eyes.

  26. Tennwriter
    December 13th, 2011 @ 11:56 am

    It was a sad thing.  Gingrich did well here.
     
     

  27. ThePaganTemple
    December 13th, 2011 @ 11:59 am

    So did Bachmann. And Perry.

  28. JewishOdysseus
    December 13th, 2011 @ 1:38 pm

    And I didn’t realize till later that Santorum had ALREADY diagreed w/Newt in press interviews BEFORE the debate…So it wasn’t like Santorum was just taken off-guard or misspoke.

    Very disappointing, and, frankly, surprising.  I thought Santorum wd stand up and BACK Newt, which would counter-intuitively have GREATLY HELPED SANTORUM…and Israel, too.

    Oh, well.

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