Santorum Drops Out

Rick Santorum has suspended his presidential campaign, leaving Mitt Romney the sure Republican nominee. Sorry, Newt Gingrich, you never had a chance anyway.

But far more important than the GOP race now becoming the foregone conclusion which it really already was, in reality if not in actual fact, is the reason Santorum is dropping out. His young daughter Bella has been having health issues, and he wants to be able to see to them.

It is exactly that sort of fatherly compassion which has set him apart from Romney and Gingrich. Santorum is the kind of conservative who cares about the whole person, even in areas where some person would say his concerns are not part of their personal vision. It came out in his speeches and campaign appearances, and it resonated with right wing Republicans in ways which Gingrich's bravado and Romney's slickness did not. Gingrich may be one of us, but he's too brash and divisive. Romney is probably not one of us, appealing to conservative values only to win a nomination. But Rick Santorum was the real deal, not unlike the great Ronald Reagan. Conservatives saw and could relate to that.

The cynics will say that the decision was prompted by recent poll numbers suggesting Santorum was headed towards defeat in his home state of Pennsylvania, whose primary is upcoming. Let them say it. They are the kind of people you cannot influence anyway. As to the rest of us, we owe Mr. Santorum thanks for allowing us to believe that a real Republican could express conservative passionately and literately, and to see that there is still hope for American even today. Even though the election has now become between Obama and Obama lite.

Good luck and Godspeed for your family and your future, Senator.