Why I Switched to Santorum

Republican voters in Arizona explain how they fell for Rick.

Three months ago, Public Policy Polling asked Republican primary voters whom they liked. Three percent of them chose Rick Santorum. This week, PPP asked again. Thirty-three percent of Republicans planned on voting for Santorum, putting him one hot breath away from Mitt Romney.

Who are these people, and why did they switch to Rick? I interviewed voters outside a Santorum speech in Tucson to find out.

Marie Wagner, retired

“I was going back and forth, but when I hear him speak, he sounds very conservative in his life, in his family values. He’s a good and decent person. He’d be a good and decent president. Mitt carries a lot of baggage from way back when, and so does Newt. But it’s better than the choice we had last time. I didn’t really vote for McCain—I had to vote for him to vote for Sarah.”

Dave Weigel.
Morgan Watts, driver for disabled people

“Herman Cain was my guy until he dropped out. I used to hate Burger King, then he came in, and now I probably eat there every week. But I came around to Santorum. In the debates, Santorum’s been a straight-up conservative the whole time. He speaks like a conservative, and he sticks to the issues that need to be stuck to: Obamacare, global warming, national security. I’m sick of the RINOs [Republicans in Name Only].”

Dave Weigel.
Cathy Wharton, retired

“I made my mind up two or three weeks ago. Santorum’s a conservative. He doesn’t flip-flop. And he has energy. … Also, I’ve been in a relationship with the same woman for 31 years. There are those of us who are gay who aren’t too bothered by Santorum on those issues. What else don’t I like about Romney? I shouldn’t say this, but he’s a Mormon. But I should say, that’s by far the least important reason that I’m not voting for him.”

Dave Weigel.
Dominic Escamilla, financial adviser

“I kind of learned my lesson, over years of voting in Republican primaries, to wait until the field thins out. Now that it’s down to these four, it’s no contest. If you’re a conservative, Mitt’s not, and Newt isn’t—all his solutions are big government solutions, and he’s not a likable guy. [Santorum] had some earmarks when earmarks weren’t a big issue. He did toe the line with Bush, and Bush made a lot of mistakes, but compared to everything else, that’s forgivable.”

Dave Weigel.
Ann Doherty, teacher

“I started supporting him when he became more electable, honestly, because that’s what conservatives are looking for. They’re not necessarily looking for the right candidate. They’re looking for someone who can beat Obama. If that turned out to be a 7-year-old with an aneurysm, it would be enough. I don’t particularly support all of Santorum’s policies, but if he can get elected, that’s what matters.”
Steve Johnson, church youth leader

“My wife and I were into Santorum way before it was popular to do so. I saw him debate Barbara Boxer on abortion. His convictions aren’t, politically, all that acceptable. The issue was offering medical help to a botched abortion. She was against it. He asked, ‘When does a baby have a right to life?’ She said, ‘When he or she leaves the hospital with his family.’ I was so glad he asked that question, and he won an argument he could have lost. Even though I know our views are unpopular, I love to hear someone articulate them. … I’d rather lose with my guy than have the media pick our candidate, then lose.”

Dave Weigel.
Lydia Quirk, retired

“All of the candidates talk about stopping funding for abortion, but Santorum starts by caring about the life of the child. I don’t think you can trust the other candidates on principles. We need a man of character, because if we’re not careful, we’re headed for a revolution in this country.”

Dave Weigel.
Scott Ingersoll, military contractor

“I like his economic plan, the focus on manufacturing. The oil industry’s doing well enough. We need to get manufacturing going again. I like where he is on immigration. I follow NumbersUSA, and they rank him the highest. I think he gets an A-, the highest of all the Republicans. But I’m just deciding right now. My absentee ballot is at home, waiting for me to send it.”

Dave Weigel.