Rick Santorum, 53, is one of the four remaining contenders for the GOP nomination in the 2012 Presidential election. Santorum, former House representative and senator of Pennsylvania, announced his candidacy June 6, 2011.
As a father of seven children and a devout Catholic, Santorum strongly opposes gay marriage, abortion and stem cell research. Because of his conservative stance on contemporary issues such as these, he is a prime candidate for Republican voters. However, Santorum has been out of office since 2007 and lacks additional personal wealth, unlike his opponents.
One of Santorum’s main issues he addresses is the importance of family values. Santorum can often be found in photographs with his wife and children. Regardless of Senator Santorum’s list of achievements, he is “most proud of his role as a husband and father,” according to his website.
As a father of seven children and a devout Catholic, Santorum strongly opposes gay marriage, abortion and stem cell research. Because of his conservative stance on contemporary issues such as these, he is a prime candidate for Republican voters. However, Santorum has been out of office since 2007 and lacks additional personal wealth, unlike his opponents.
One of Santorum’s main issues he addresses is the importance of family values. Santorum can often be found in photographs with his wife and children. Regardless of Senator Santorum’s list of achievements, he is “most proud of his role as a husband and father,” according to his website.
Santorum uses the image of the American father to appeal to voters and set him apart from other candidates. His opponent, Newt Gingrich is married to his third wife after divorcing his two previous spouses; a history unfavorable to most voters.
However, Santorum’s extreme resistance toward homosexuality turns many voters away. In an interview with Associated Press, Santorum compared homosexuality to polygamy, adultery and even bestiality.
“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything," Santorum said.
Controversies such as this could potentially turn voters away from Santorum and more towards candidate Mitt Romney. Romney is much more liberal on his position about gay marriage. He favored the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” and supported civil unions while he was governor of Massachusetts.
The Iowa caucus made Santorum seem like a very viable GOP nominee. He placed first at the Iowa caucus with 24.6% of the votes, just ahead of Romney with 24.5%. Ron Paul came in third with 21.4%, followed by Gingrich with 13.3%.
However, Santorum’s extreme resistance toward homosexuality turns many voters away. In an interview with Associated Press, Santorum compared homosexuality to polygamy, adultery and even bestiality.
“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything," Santorum said.
Controversies such as this could potentially turn voters away from Santorum and more towards candidate Mitt Romney. Romney is much more liberal on his position about gay marriage. He favored the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” and supported civil unions while he was governor of Massachusetts.
The Iowa caucus made Santorum seem like a very viable GOP nominee. He placed first at the Iowa caucus with 24.6% of the votes, just ahead of Romney with 24.5%. Ron Paul came in third with 21.4%, followed by Gingrich with 13.3%.