With support in his home state of Pennsylvania growing, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorumhas joined the list of GOP presidential hopefuls who have committed to participate in Florida's Presidency 5 straw poll on Sept. 24.
On Tuesday, Republican Party of Florida spokesman Brian Hughes confirmed that the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania will compete in the poll, which concludes the three-day event in Orlando. Santorum, a social conservative, has polled in single digits at the national level and in most states. In a bit of a surprisingly strong showing, however, Santorum came in fourth in the Iowa straw poll held in Ames last month.
Santorum becomes the fourth of the candidates announcing he will participate in the Presidency 5 straw poll. Previously confirmed participants are U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, businessman Herman Cain and former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah who has headquartered his campaign in Orlando.
Hughes said the RPOF is in communication with the other presidential hopefuls and expects further confirmations this week.
As of now, the party intends to include on its straw poll ballot every candidate who participates in the Fox News debate that kicks off Presidency 5 on Sept. 22. All leading contenders -- including those who have expressed disinterest in the straw poll, such as former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota -- have said they will be at that event.
After the Iowa straw poll, the Santorum camp turned its attention back to Pennsylvania, looking to rally Pennsylvania Republicans behind their favorite son who represented the Keystone State in the U.S. Senate from 1995 until 2007. Those efforts bore fruit on Tuesday, when Santorum unveiled the backing of 15 state senators from Pennsylvania, including Joe Scarnati, who had been lieutenant governor and is now state Senate president pro tempore.
"I am honored to have the support of this esteemed group of Pennsylvania leaders, from tea party legislators to party leadership, who know firsthand that our campaign has the record of electoral and legislative success in Pennsylvania and is best positioned to defeat President Obama, Santorum at a campaign event in Verona, Pa. They understand that our nation is at a crossroads and that it is time for proven leadership, not showmanship, in the White House.I have worked with these fine people and they know my record of consistent conservative results. Their support undergirds what I've been saying on the trail -- that I have the record of results to win the GOP nomination and defeat President Obama in November 2012."
Santorum received more support from the Keystone State on Tuesday when the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association announced it is backing the former senators jobs plan.
Released in early July, Santorums plan called for the elimination of the corporate tax for domestic manufacturers, expanding energy exploration, increasing the R&D Tax Credit by 6 percent and repealing a host of federal laws and regulations, including the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama, Sarbanes-Oxley, which governs corporate accounting practices, and Dodd-Frank, which covers financial firms.
"To improve America's competitive position in the world and restart our economy, something as aggressive as Senator Santorum's manufacturing plan will be necessary, insisted Frederick Anton, the president and CEO of the PMA. Manufacturing is the engine that drives our economy because it is the sector that adds the most value and has the strongest spin-off effect on job creation through far-reaching supply chains and distribution networks. Senator Santorum clearly understands this value manufacturing has on our overall economy, and his plan is consistent with his strong, unwavering record in support of pro-growth public policy throughout his career -- for which we are grateful.
Santorum used the PMA support to launch an attack on Obamas economic policies.
Let's be honest, President Obama's economic policy would have to improve dramatically to even be considered incompetent, he said. If there is any group that understands the federal tax and regulatory burdens that are stifling American innovation and economic growth, it is the manufacturers. The Obama administration has created massive tax burdens on businesses and implemented crippling regulations that have created an environment where businesses are barely staying afloat.Change is needed immediately, and the change needs to come from the top.
As president, I will provide this nation with real leadership on successful economic policy and work to instill our nation with a renewed confidence in the American innovative spirit, Santorum added. To have PMA's endorsement of our plan to put America back to work is a great vote of confidence and motivation on the road to victory in November 2012."
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341. Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
