Santorum Admits Enthusiasm Was Lacking—But Predicts Turnaround

January 21, 2012 RSS Feed Print

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum admitted Friday night that enthusiasm in his campaign had lagged in South Carolina--but was predicting a turnaround in the final hours.

"It is good, it wasn't exactly the way I wanted it to feel. I didn't feel like we were surging," Santorum said, while speaking to cadets at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, adding that he felt "energy and electricity" at events.

[Up Close, Romney Wins Over Converts.]

The latest polls have Santorum battling with Texas Rep. Ron Paul for third place behind Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

But Santorum is hardly crazy for predciting a turnaround. In Iowa, polls taken days before the state's caucus showed him lagging, but a late surge--as well as a key endorsement from state religious leader Bob Vander Plaats--helped him secure a strong finish in the state, which the Iowa GOP confirmed days ago was a slim victory. Santorum also just secured an endorsement from another key religious leader, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson.

And in a campaign this crazy, don't count anything out.

[Rick Santorum's Iowa Win Deserves More Attention.]

Santorum fashioned himself the "Goldilocks" candidate—the sensible middle ground between "too cool" Romney and "too hot" Gingrich. As for Romney, Santorum took a jab at his vast estimated wealth.

"Americans aren't looking for the person with the most money—they're looking for the person who's going to make them the most money," Santorum said.