My newspaper didn't cover then-candidate Rick Santorum's visit to fort Mill this past winter (which doesn't seem all so long ago). Our sister daily, The Herald, was covering it, so using our reduced resources there would have been redundant and we likely would have had to sacrifice a local story neither of us was covering that week.
Now that he dropped out, what would have been the point, really? It won't be of much historic significance - although someday it will make for an off the beaten path bullet point in the weekly look back at news we published in past decades. But Santorum quitting the race - not expected - brought something to mind today. Although I really can't stand the guy and its obvious his own extreme views cost him any chance at the GOP nomination, I do admire that he was among the few candidates for President who truly comes from a background I can relate to.
Outside President Obama and before him, President Clinton, how many candidates have run for the office who actually knew what it was like to worry about making ends meet? About paying the car insurance or the the rent? Lights or lunch?
Santorum (I'm not sure about Ron Paul, but he's really a non factor). Gingrich and Romney both grew up not knowing the anxiety of not having enough money (and both have enough to literally burn without sacrificing a thing).
Can't say that about Al Gore or W. Not Kerry, either.
Now Dole, he lived through the depression. I think of Nixon and Truman (Ike - I'd have to look up).
Add them all up and it seems very few of the serious candidates were not among the privileged. I'm not sure what it means, but it makes me think. How about you?
p.s. New post coming soon about our wonderful S.C. unemployment office personnel (sarcasm off).
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