WARNING: Don't misunderestimate him: Santorum may actually be electable.

[stevenleser]

17. Under the right conditions, anyone nominated by one of the two parties can beat an incumbent

As conditions are now, I dont think any of the candidates could beat the President. If unemployment goes down from here, we will start to see conditions where the President will have a huge victory. If it goes up, he starts to become vulnerable.

There are three reasons Santorum would lose:

1. As someone already mentioned, I dont think in 2012 you can be a virulent homophobic bigot and win the Presidency. Thankfully, I think that time has passed.

2. Speaking in favor of the right of states to outlaw contraception is really going to hurt Santorums ability to get the women's vote. Pro-Life already causes a problem, speaking in favor of the right to take away contraception is going to really hurt.

3. Being in favor of Arizona's draconian anti-immigration laws has to hurt him with latinos.

Those three issues together really add up to some real problems in having a chance at being elected. I think unemployment would have to go to 20% before Santorum could have a shot.