warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Rick Santorum Visits California

Nandini Ruparel |
March 28, 2012 | 2:30 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Rick Santorum (photo courtesy of Creative Commons).
Rick Santorum (photo courtesy of Creative Commons).
Rick Santorum visited the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, Calif. Thursday in hopes of winning California's 172 delegates for the Republican primary. 

However, Santorum may have to do more than stop at Ronald Reagan’s favorite candy factory to win over California voters. According to a Los Angeles Times/USC Dornsife poll, Santorum is 19 points behind Mitt Romney (who is at 42 percent) in the state. The Republican primary in California is on June 5. 

"I think there's not much hope for him in California, [because] many are not as socially conservative," said Alex Kludijan, public relations officer of USC's College Republicans. "His niche is evangelicals in the south and religious conservatives are not a significant majority."

In California, Santorum espoused once again his conservative values while lambasting President Obama's foreign policy and calling for stronger action against nuclear powers. 

"What has he done on that front," Santorum said. "What he's done on that front is the same thing he did off-camera with the president of Russia. `Give me a little time,' and that's exactly what he has given to Iran, a little time."

Santorum’s Facebook page is focusing on his conservative ideals and beliefs as his main talking points to entice California voters.

Republicans as a whole seem to be favoring Romney because Santorum is extremely socially conservative.

"This election is a little bit of an exception - people are so fired up about defeating Obama, Santorum does not have a chance in the general election," Kludijan said. "He's kind of a polarizing person."

 

However, according to the Los Angeles Times, Santorum’s socially conservative policies - being against gay marriage and abortion rights, as well as being fiscally conservative - have turned off some California voters. 

 

"Most people would agree that Romney basically has it in the bag," Kludijan said. "Santorum is way too far to the right for people to elect him."

While California is generally considered a Democratic stronghold, the primary will be limited to registered Republican voters, giving the republican candidates a chance. Overall, however, Obama still holds the majority of the popular vote in California. 

 

----------


Reach staff reporter Nandini Ruparel here.

 



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.