Many of us root for the underdog, by nature.
Rick Santorum just came through North Dakota, and this morning, I saw the story about him asking for Secret Service protection, following a "rowdy rally" by some protesters. (For a moment, I was confused; everything became more clear when I learned that the protests were not here in ND, but rather, in Tacoma, Washington. No slight intended on the folks there; I lived there once. But there's more of a populus from which to draw there than on a weeknight in North Dakota.)
If one has Secret Service protection, it just might mean one is no longer the underdog.
I'm not talking about political viewpoints or ideology; just the normal course of competition: who, now, is the underdog?
Ron Paul? 2nd in the Minnesota caucuses, among other places.
Mitt Romney? He's been the front-runner on too many occasions, and has the biggest war chest.
Newt Gingrich? Maybe; even the right-leaning Washington Times has called for him to go.
It wasn't long ago that there was just enough of a sentiment that things "weren't so great," that predictions of an Obama loss in 2012 were starting to surface. But now...maybe he's not the underdog anymore, either.
There are a number of names which have started to fade into obscurity, at least as far as the 2012 General Election are concerned. Most, for reasons they, too, could never get support as the favorite underdog.
So...who then? Or will we begin to hear more about voter apathy?
This could, theoretically, be the point at which I launch into a campaign of my own, but no thanks. I don't have any major skeletons in my closet, but I don't have enough reason for anyone to rally around me, either...apart from the human nature of the underdog. ("Why me," indeed.)
But maybe the reality is that the position isn't nearly as rewarding as its title implies. "Leader of the free world" can translate into, "most criticised person in the world," regardless of one's ideology. And the private sector offers trule qualified people more attractive compensation packages, with the possible exception of the lifelong pension and Secret Service protection.
All of which makes me think: maybe Santorum *is* still that underdog. How ironic, from the viewpoint of the Occupy Tacoma movement, it would be that Santorum's lifelong Secret Service protection began with their own rally against him.
Not advocating a viewpoint; just noting the irony.
© 2012
