Santorum Ends 364-Day White House Bid
Santorum’s presidential campaign lasted two months longer than Tim Pawlenty’s and Rick Perry’s combined
As late as November 2011 Rick Santorum would likely not be on anyone’s list of the last four Republican presidential candidates remaining in the race come April.
The former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator’s remarkable underdog run to win 11 states and become the chief anti-Romney challenger surprised many in his ability to outlast other more well-funded campaigns like Rick Perry and Herman Cain and outperform others like Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.
The seven previous Republican candidates who ended their White House bids are a mixed bag of politicians who burned through their money too early (Tim Pawlenty), flamed out during the debates (Rick Perry), failed to sustain early momentum (Michele Bachmann), departed due to scandal (Herman Cain), or never caught on fire to begin with (Thad McCotter, Jon Huntsman).
Santorum outlasted them all – running on a (comparatively) shoestring budget for most of the 364 days since he launched his presidential exploratory committee on April 13th of last year.
Since forming that committee, Santorum had the third longest run behind Newt Gingrich at 405 days (and counting) and Mitt Romney at 366 days (and counting). (Ron Paul launched his committee 351 days ago).
Since officially announcing his presidential candidacy on June 6, 2011, Santorum had the fourth longest campaign at 310 days behind Gingrich (336), Paul (334), and Romney (314).
Jon Huntsman’s campaign lasted 210 days from the day of his formal campaign announcement, with Herman Cain coming in at 197 days, Michele Bachmann at 192, Rick Perry at 160, Tim Pawlenty at 84, and Thad McCotter at 83.
Length of 2012 Republican Presidential Campaigns
|
Candidate
|
Exploratory
|
Announced
|
Exited
|
# Days 1
|
# Days 2
|
|
Thad McCotter
|
July 1, 2011
|
July 2, 2011
|
September 22, 2011
|
84
|
83
|
|
Tim Pawlenty
|
March 21, 2011
|
May 23, 2011
|
August 14, 2011
|
147
|
84
|
|
Rick Perry
|
N/A
|
August 13, 2011
|
January 19, 2012
|
160
|
160
|
|
Michele Bachmann
|
June 13, 2011
|
June 27, 2011
|
January 4, 2012
|
206
|
192
|
|
Herman Cain
|
January 12, 2011
|
May 21, 2011
|
December 3, 2011
|
326
|
197
|
|
Jon Huntsman
|
May 3, 2011
|
June 21, 2011
|
January 16, 2012
|
259
|
210
|
|
Rick Santorum
|
April 13, 2011
|
June 6, 2011
|
April 10, 2012
|
364
|
310
|
|
Mitt Romney
|
April 11, 2011
|
June 2, 2011
|
Still in race
|
366
|
314
|
|
Ron Paul
|
April 26, 2011
|
May 13, 2011
|
Still in race
|
351
|
334
|
|
Newt Gingrich
|
March 3, 2011
|
May 11, 2011
|
Still in race
|
405
|
336
|
Note: Through April 10, 2012.
Santorum’s bid was also longer than Gary Johnson’s 252-day run as a Republican candidate and Buddy Roemer’s 218-day run.
Johnson and Roemer are now seeking the Libertarian and Americans Elect nominations respectively.
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