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Pete Spiliakos is a columnist for First Things.

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On Tomorrow’s Debate

From First Thoughts

1.  I think it is a huge deal for Santorum.  My sense is that a large plurality of potential Republican voters would prefer to vote for Santorum, but also don’t want to vote for a bumbler or sure loser.  This group doesn’t want to vote Romney, but they’ll do it if . . . . Continue Reading »

A Couple Of Quick Thoughts

From First Thoughts

1.  So I was talking to a friend of mine about Romney’s inability to connect with conservative audiences.  I don’t know how someone can run for office for so long and yet be be so bad at imagining the mental universe of his target constituency as to believe that they would . . . . Continue Reading »

Steady On

From First Thoughts

Reihan Salam is one of my favorite policy writers and he had some interesting thoughts about how the issue of gay marriage impacts Rick Santorum’s chances to win the general election.  This caught me a little short:  But the notion that opposition to same-sex marriage is rooted in . . . . Continue Reading »

The Limits Of Santorum

From First Thoughts

I really like the guy but the skeptical comments regarding Santorum by Bryan, Sara, Stephen P,  and Peter Lawler deserve attention.  Take the whole women in combat thing.   His point about group dynamics isn’t crazy, but he is just off.  He just isn’t quick enough or . . . . Continue Reading »

Santorum Skepticism

From First Thoughts

Henry Olsen is one of my favorite writers.  He explains the problem with Santorum’s strategy to win over white (and not only white) working-class voters.  Olsen just nails it and every right-of-center politician with national ambitions should read the article.  I . . . . Continue Reading »

Not So Bad In The End

From First Thoughts

I’ve spent a lot of the Republican nominating race complaining about the various demagogues and/or con artists like Trump, Cain, Bachmann, and Gingrich who, at one time or another either led the polls or were the main alternative to Romney. As Ross Douthat pointed out last month,  . . . . Continue Reading »

Very Quickly On Last Night

From First Thoughts

1.  I think Peter and Rich Lowry over at NRO said a lot.  2.  One huge advantage that Santorum will have over Gingrich is that conservative journalists won’t turn on Santorum the way they did on Gingrich (unless Santorum really melts down or something).  Santorum . . . . Continue Reading »