Rick Santorum: “The Little Engine that Could”

by Gianna Cacciatore
Presidency and the Press

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum refused to let low awareness bring him down in response to questions from Presidency and the Press students on Monday.

With a burning desire and positive outlook, Santorum plans to make his mark on the 2012 Presidential elections. Though he is not the most well-known republican candidate, nor the one with the largest campaign, Santorum maintains that his small grassroots effort will grow to make a difference. “We’re going to keep working; we think we can win”.

Santorum is no stranger to losing. He lost the 2006 Pennsylvania senatorial race to an opposing democrat. However, he believes that adversity can be easily overcome, citing former presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, who also lost their bids for senate seats previous to their presidential elections.

Santorum is currently in New Hampshire, spreading his name and ideas in preparation for the 2011 NH primary. New Hampshire, with its historically held first-in-the-nation primary status, is a top-priority for Santorum. He holds New Hampshire’s live free or die spirit in high esteem, and believes New Hampshire’s hands off economy is the key to jumpstarting that of the nation.

But for all of his  positivity, Santorum has had his share of negative attention. After televised debates, Santorum ritually receives harsh criticism from those closest to him- his family. From his facial expressions to his weight, Santorum’s children find many problems in the presidential hopeful.

But, as Santorum said himself, he is “the little engine that could”. Next time he makes a public appearance, he will hold his head high- or else. With his chin down, according to his daughter, he looks fat.