Of Mittens and Santorum who would be the easiest for Dems to defeat?

[WI_DEM]

I think both can go down pretty easily, but I've come to the reluctant conclusion that Mittens because he is so unlikable and represents in every way the 1 percent--and has waffled on nearly every major issue--and because the right wing of his party has absolutely no enthusiasm for--would be the easiest for Obama to beat.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I agree

I think Mitt Romney is the easier of the two . . . the die hard hard right aren't excited about him. Santorum on the other hand plays to every single deeply rooted fear they have.

[Proud Public Servant]

2. Two words: Gender Gap

Santorum would send independent and mainstream/old-school GOP women over to Obama in droves.

Also, as I've argued elsewhere, youth -- one of Obama's most important constituencies in 2008 -- are not fired up for himthis time around; they feel let down and betrayed (rightly or naively) by the centrist way in which he's governed. But put him up against Santorum and his anti-sex platform, and just watch them turn out at near-2008 levels.

Obama/Romney would likely replay Obama/McCain. But Obama/Santorum would replay Johnson/Goldwater.

[MoonRiver]

3. I think Santorum,

but they are both self-destructing by the minute. Neither one will have any viability at the end of this insane primary.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. The fact that GOP isn't sold on either one of them at the moment

suggests that either would be fairly easy. Mitt is the more "establishment" and "mainstream" GOP candidate, so he stands the *best* shot at attracting moderates/independents but he generates almost no real enthusiasm within the GOP base, so he would likely be unable to win the GE and would be huge drag on the downticket races. Santorum would fire up the shock troops on the right though his views would be considered much too far outside the mainstream to actually win the GE. A Santorum candidacy would also increase Dem turnout, which is also going to hurt the GOP. I guess Santorum would be the "easiest" GE nominee to beat. I keep wondering if Romney and Santorum might join forces at some point?

[libtodeath]

5. Either

conservatives hate mittens and by the general election the country will view insantorum in horror.

[joeybee12]

6. Sans-scrotum, by far....

They're both hated by mostly everyone, but Wall Street loves Mittens, so he'll have tons of cash...Wall Street will not give as much to Sans-scrotum, knowing he's doomed.

[dragonlady]

7. Either, but there is another consideration

A poster on dailyKos made a convincing case that we don't want Santorum to get the nomination because it would give him an elevated position from which to talk about all his horrid positions on social issues. This would fire up the bigoted base and ultimately hurt people, like gay teenagers who are the targets of bullies, with tragic consequences.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/20/1064019/-Can-we-please-not-wish-for-a-Santorum-nomination-?via=siderec

[HopeHoops]

8. Either. They've both got more baggage than someone moving across country by plane.