海角大神

Rick Santorum didn鈥檛 ask a packed ballroom at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) for their vote, exactly. He called for their honor.

鈥淚 am asking for your honor. To put your honor on the line. Honor is a term that鈥檚 not used very often in America anymore. But it鈥檚 exactly what鈥檚 at stake,鈥� the former Pennsylvania聽senator and GOP presidential candidate said Friday morning.

鈥淧lease, walk out of this gathering and choose the candidate that you believe is the right person to lead this country, not just to victory but to the changes that are necessary for that victory to be won, that you can say 鈥業 have done my duty and I have kept my honor.鈥� 鈥�

The message jibed with Mr. Santorum鈥檚 broader appeal to some 10,000 activists, volunteers, students, and conservative media members assembled at CPAC, the annual conservative confab in northwest Washington, D.C.

Honor, in Santorum鈥檚 case, means a longstanding fidelity to traditional social conservative positions.

鈥淟et鈥檚 just take a look at that in the Republican field. Who has the boldest contrast [with President Obama]? Who has the record they can run on?鈥� Santorum said.

Foster Friess, the mutual-fund millionaire who has poured money into a pro-Santorum "super PAC," said in his introduction of Santorum that nominating a true-blooded conservative is the only way forward for the Republican Party.

鈥淚鈥檓 supporting Santorum not only because he has the best chance of winning, but maybe the only chance of winning,鈥� Mr. Friess said. 鈥淲hy don鈥檛 we learn? We cannot continue to support these experienced, wonderful warhorses, these [political] veterans? It didn鈥檛 work with Bob Dole. It didn鈥檛 work with John McCain.鈥�

Without saying the name of his presidential rival Mitt Romney, Santorum then launched into the second half of his appeal: Concerns about his electability are severely misplaced. Santorum ticked down a list of contrasts he says that he has with the former governor of Massachusetts, including health-care policy, social concerns, and energy.

He even took a shot at Mr. Romney鈥檚 sizable fundraising and organizational advantages.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to win this election because the Republican candidate has the most money to beat up their opponent and win the election,鈥� Santorum said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to win this election over a lopsided money advantage 鈥� we won鈥檛 have one in the fall. President Obama will have more money.... So just think about what it鈥檚 going to take. Ideas. Vision. Contrast. A record of contrast that can go up against the failed policies of Barack Obama,鈥� Santorum concluded to raucous applause.

This mix of appeals was right in the bull's-eye for his already-committed backers.

鈥淲hen you look at Santorum from a pro-life movement [perspective] and see what his history is, he鈥檚 carrying less baggage than anybody else,鈥� said Tom Jones, a financial services executive from Williamsburg, Va. 鈥淗e鈥檚 family, he鈥檚 morals, and what more can you ask for?鈥�

The question for Santorum, however, according to some CPAC attendees, is less about whether Santorum can win the honor of conservative activists and more about convincing them that he鈥檚 got a real shot at winning against Obama.

鈥淲hen you close your eyes, can you envision him in the Oval Office?鈥� said Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which hosts CPAC, during a morning briefing. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 the gravitas issue, and his remarks will have to go a long way toward creating a comfort level on not only are his values in place but you鈥檙e comfortable that he can be the leader of the free world.鈥�

Those concerns were echoed by Vladimir Plotkin a junior at Emory University in Atlanta. While one of the numerous Santorum backers had thrust a Santorum sign into his hands, Mr. Plotkin said he was undecided about whom to support.

鈥淚 agree with [Santorum] completely 鈥� but I do not believe he is electable,鈥� Plotkin said.
But could any of the candidates speaking here today change his mind?

鈥淭he candidates are not that good,鈥� he said with a bit of a wince. 鈥淚f Santorum convinces me he鈥檚 electable and Romney convinces me I can trust him, then yes, absolutely.鈥�

Today, however, Santorum struck a balance 鈥� shaping a vision of an Oval Office contender and reminding his party鈥檚 activists that he is one of their own.

聽鈥淔olks, I鈥檝e been here before. We know each other,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e worked together in the vineyards; we鈥檝e taken on the tough battles that confront this country. I know you and you know me. And that鈥檚 important.鈥�

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