Quote:

---

The conservative culture warrior sees a populist path to appeal to downscale voters whom Romney "marginalized."

With a chocolate malted in hand and permanent smile on his face, Rick Santorum traversed the massive Iowa State Fair on Friday afternoon, stopping repeatedly to shake hands with folks who recognized him.

For the former Pennsylvania Senator, it was all part of a whirlwind, three-day return to the state that shocked the political world 19 months ago by crowning him victor of the Iowa caucuses over Mitt Romney. Since dropping out of the presidential race in April of last year, Santorum has been keeping his name in the news. He founded a political group, Patriot Voices, to keep his supporters energized, and he’s taken on a role as CEO of a Christian film studio.

But another bid for the White House in 2016 has never been far from his mind.

“I’m not doing anything inconsistent with running — how’s that,” he said with a grin as he walked through the fairgrounds when asked if he’s exploring another run. “It’s certainly something we’re going to give a lot of thought to. You really can’t give thought to it and be serious about it unless you put yourself in a position where you have options. And you can’t give yourself options unless you’re out there and engaged in the process.”

Already, Santorum is trying to carve out a distinct ideological space for his candidacy, striking a populist tone on economic issues to reach downscale voters he says Mitt Romney “marginalized,” while encouraging the GOP to double down on social issues.

“First and foremost we need to reject this idea that ‘Well, if we just build the economy, all boats will rise and everybody will be fine,’” he said Saturday at a gathering of evangelical conservatives in Ames. “I don’t know about you, but most people I know have holes in their boats. And when that tide rises, sometimes they sink.” Santorum sees an opening for a repeat of his message of economic populism and compassionate conservatism, especially after Romney’s “47%” slip.

But if Santorum decides to run again, he’ll face a decidedly more potent Republican field — not the comparative lightweights who ran against Romney — that could include former Florida governor Jeb Bush, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, to name just a few.

In 2012 he became the last Romney rival standing essentially by default. Yes, he spent more time in Iowa than anyone, but most conservatives there and elsewhere settled on his candidacy only after all the others imploded. And the state that knew him best isn’t rushing to grant him victory just yet. A July poll looking at 2016 caucus prospects by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling found Santorum in sixth place, with only 6% of the Republican vote. Much more at http://swampland.time.com/2013/08/12/santorum-eyes-repeat-run-in-2016/
#ixzz2bljaqZbE

---

Quote:

---

Santorum accused of illegally steering $1 million donation to super PAC

A campaign finance watchdog has filed a complaint against former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, referring to reports that Santorum or his campaign may have illegally urged a donor to donate $1 million to a super PAC supporting Santorum.

The donor, energy executive William Dore, in a recent interview said he approached Santorum about giving his campaign $1 million. He initially said Santorum urged him to instead give the money to the super PAC, Red White and Blue Fund, which can accept unlimited donations. Santorum’s campaign is subject to much lower contribution limits and could not accept such a donation.

Dore later recanted, saying it was Santorum’s staff who directed him to give to the super PAC.

The Campaign Legal Center, in its complaint, notes that campaign finance law allows candidates to solicit donations to super PACs, but those solicitations are subject to the same contribution limits as their campaigns. So while Santorum’s campaign could tell Dore to contribute a maximum of $5,000 to the super PAC, it cannot urge him to donate $1 million to it.

“Mr. Doré’s account of his interaction with Mr. Santorum and his staff, if true, reveals a clear violation of federal campaign finance law,” said Paul S. Ryan, senior counsel for the Campaign Legal Center.

Here is a clip from the initial report by the Sunlight Foundation:

Quote:

---

When a reporter expressed surprise on hearing that Santorum directed Doré to the super PAC, Doré backtracked. “I don’t want to get him in any sort of problem,” Doré said. “I would not want to compromise his future.”

Doré then suggested that Santorum had asked him to give it to the Republican Party, not the super PAC. When told by a reporter that Santorum would not have suggested the Republican Party because the maximum donation would only be around $30,000, he confirmed that it was the super PAC that was discussed.

In a follow-up interview a few hours after the first one, Doré backtracked further. “After reflecting on that comment, I said to myself: Did he actually tell me that? I don’t think he did.” He maintained that it was Santorum’s aides, not the former senator, who told him about the super PAC. http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2013/1-million-dinner-when-big
-donor-bill-dore-meets-rick-santorum/]

---

Dore wound up contributing $2.25 million to the Red White and Blue Fund.

A spokeswoman for Santorum’s PAC and a top Santorum strategist did not immediately respond to a request for comment. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/14/santor
um-accused-of-illegally-steering-1-million-donation-to-super-pac/?hpid=z11

---