Is Santorum the “Mr Smith Goes To Washington” candidate?
Will it be his day in Iowa?
We are here at last – January 3rd the day of the Iowa caucuses which is the first step in the process of the US choosing its next president.
Tonight at 7pm Iowa time tens of thousands of ordinary voters will be attending caucus meetings at more than 1,700 venues throughout the state. It will be the aggregate of votes taken at those meetings which will be the “result”. We should start getting a picture at about 4am UK time.
Although Iowa has a mixed record in choosing the actual nominees it’s generally been the place where the weaker campaigns come to a halt and it’s likely that over the next week or so the number of active contenders will drop sharply.
As to Santorum’s appeal I liked this comment from StJohn on the overnight thread:-
“One of his evangelical supporters has suggested he could be the James Stewart, “Mr Smith Goes To Washington”, candidate.
This captures his electoral appeal for me. Santo is the regular, white, home spun, middle American guy, who wants to restore family values.”
Maybe. But even if he does win in Iowa he’s got a massive challenge ahead facing the well funded and well organised Romney campaign.
So who is going to win? I find that hard to call and have now arranged my betting so that whatever happens I’m a winner. This is something that’s been possible after getting on Santorum last Wednesday night at an average of about 30/1. A portion of that position has been laid t to cover myself on the other outcomes.
The betting prices are changing all the time but as I write you can get about evens against Romney, 2/1 Paul and 5/2 Santorum.
Mike Smithson @MikeSmithsonOGH
