By Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles Times
ADEL, Iowa — It was a ringing non-endorsement on a surprisingly slow day Monday, considering that Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses are barely more than a week away.
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who was the only candidate in the state Monday, went pheasant hunting with Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, an evangelical conservative. The former senator from Pennsylvania killed some black pheasant and quail, but failed to bag the endorsement of the influential Republican leader.
Although Santorum is one of the most conservative candidates in the race, King said he had not yet made up his mind about whom to support. Santorum said he was OK with that.
“I invited Steve to come out and hunt,” Santorum said. “I almost consider myself a resident here, so it’s sort of a neighborly thing to do.”
Of all the candidates seeking the nomination, Santorum has spent the most time in Iowa, visiting all 99 counties and meeting with groups as sparse as two or three people. Yet he continues to lag in the polls and fundraising, and he has been unable to win the broad support of the considerable evangelical Christian base in the state.
Asked how he would define “winning,” Santorum said, “It’s exceeding expectations.”
He said his view of the contest in Iowa is that there are three primary races. “There’s the libertarian primary, which Ron Paul’s going to win. Then you got the moderate primary, which 1/8Newt3/8 Gingrich and 1/8Mitt3/8 Romney are scrumming for. And you got three folks who are running as strong conservatives,” he said, referring to himself, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. “I think if we win that primary we are in very good shape.”
