Rick Santorum's robocall to Democrats: A 'dirty trick'?
The Romney camp is outraged that Santorum is trying to win Michigan by getting Democrats to vote in the Republican primary
Mitt Romney is accusing Rick Santorum of using "dirty tricks" in Michigan by making robocalls to Democrats urging them to vote for Santorum in Tuesday's too-close-to-call Republican primary. "Romney supported the bailouts for his Wall Street billionaire buddies, but opposed the auto bailouts," the automated call says. So "join Democrats who are going to send a loud message to Massachusetts Mitt Romney by voting for Rick Santorum for president." The kicker? "This call is supported by hardworking Democratic men and women, and paid for by Rick Santorum." The rules do allow any voter to cast a ballot in the GOP contest, and Santorum's campaign says the automated phone calls simply reach out to Reagan Democrats. Is this smart politics, a little sleazy, or both?
Santorum is simply doing what it takes to win: Romney should stop whining, says Michelle Malkin at her blog. Santorum is just "fighting for every vote — as any candidate intent on winning should." Romney insists these robocalls are a "new low," but he has admitted to casting his own ballots for weak Democrats in past primaries to help Republicans. Romney has based his campaign on the argument that he's "best equipped to appeal to the very Reagan Democrats" Santorum is wooing. Let him prove it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The call is sleazy — but so are Romney's tactics: Santorum's robocall is a "dirty trick," says Robert Stacy McCain at The Other McCain. But so was the Romney campaign's robocall painting Santorum as untrustworthy because he endorsed Romney four years ago and opposes him now. "It's about time Team Mitt got a nice stiff dose of their own medicine." This is politics, and, as Democratic strategist James Carville likes to say, "Politics ain't beanbag."
"Santorum turns the tables on Mitt in Michigan with robo-calls to Democrats"
Santorum should be wary. This could backfire: If Santorum's "ploy succeeds," says Steve Kornacki at Salon, "it will give Romney an opportunity to argue that the Michigan result should come with an asterisk." In 2000, John McCain used crossover Democratic voters to beat George W. Bush by eight points in Michigan — but "alienated [the] Republican establishment" and gave Bush a great refrain about McCain's friendship with "mischievious" Democrats in the process. If Santorum wins, you can bet Mitt will hammer his conservative rival for his new "alliance with the Left."
"Rick Santorum's 'mischievious' Michigan ploy"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Musk's reliance on China draws rising scrutiny'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Biba: the story of a 'legendary emporium'
The Week Recommends Brand's 60th anniversary is being marked with retrospective celebrating the 'iconic shop's cultural importance'
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
How the Russia-Ukraine conflict has spread to Africa
The Explainer Ukraine is attempting to strengthen its alliances on the continent to counter Russia's growing presence
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published