A reader writes:
I'm a Pennsylvanian. I remember a political commercial pointing out that Rick Santorum was the only member of Congress who visited Terry Schiavo's bedside. Santorum didn't run that commercial; his opponent did.
Another writes:
As a Western Pennsylvania native, I can give me my perspective on why Santorum lost badly in 2006. When he was elected in the mostly Democratic PA area, he seemed more moderate, and less the hard-C conservative he eventually morphed into.
He even brought much money to the area. (Yes, those dreaded earmarks!) But eventually, Santorum went off the right deep end. He ranted against gays; evoked religion into many of his speeches; and caused more than a few raised eyebrows over showing his children the dead fetus of a child his wife had miscarried. There also was a major controversy about his residency, and if his children’s tuition at a charter school was being paid for by the taxpayers.
In some ways, Santorum’s transformation reminds me somewhat of Mitt Romney’s amazing ability to change his persona. Admittedly, the change isn’t quite as blatant, but, in my mind, it raised serious questions in 2006 as to whether this was same person that represented the area years before.
Another:
I forget all the details, but even though Santorum and his family had moved to Virginia while he was serving in Washington, he retained ownership of a small house in Pennsylvania that was rented to a tenant. And although he clearly no longer lived in Pennsylvania, he claimed the rental property as his residence and continued to have his former Pennsylvania school district foot the bill for educating his children through an online charter school.
How much of a factor was this in his defeat? I don't know, but Pennsylvania voters are not stupid. They don't like being conned, and they don't like to see rich and powerful game the system.
(Opposition video uploaded on September 26, 2006)
The Dish 