Santorum embraces biofuels as part of 2016 vision
Source: By Josh Hafner, Des Moines Register • Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2015
He weaved biofuels’ economic heft into his pro-worker message while emphasizing that he was the only potential presidential candidate still in the state after Saturday’s Freedom Summit that brought eight potential contenders to Des Moines.
“I think every other person who was there over the weekend was invited to come here,” Santorum said. “I’m the only one that’s here.”
The renewable fuels conference capped the end of an Iowa trip that took Santorum from Des Moines to Sioux City to Davenport and back. All the while, he kicked the tires on a new blue-collar message aimed more at working stiffs instead of the social conservatives who led him to an Iowa Caucus victory in 2012.
The RFS, a federal law requiring the U.S. to use more renewable fuels like corn-based ethanol, has proved a touchy topic among conservatives campaigning in Iowa. Former GOP nominee John McCain opposed it before finishing fourth in the state in 2008.
“When you have a vertically integrated oil industry, it’s important that other types of competitive products are allowed into that stream,” Santorum said. “And that’s what the (RFS) is meant to do.”
Lower energy prices, Santorum reasoned, means energy-heavy manufacturers can put more money toward hiring Americans. That led him to his potential campaign call for the GOP to focus on working-class voters.
Santorum spoke at the conference as a candidate four years ago. This time around more people in the audience knew about the former Pennsylvania senator.
Rachel Paine-Caufield, a politics professor at Drake University, said Santorum has retained name recognition and a strong base of support among Iowa caucus-goers while keeping his underdog status next to better-financed politicians like Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush.
As he toured the state this week, many analyzed Santorum’s new approach that downplays the social issues he become synonymous with in favor of topics like jobs, immigration and the economy.
Quad Cities resident Jeff Havenner supported Santorum in the last Iowa Straw Poll but caucused for former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. “I think what he’s saying makes a lot a sense,” he said.
It’s way too early for most to pick a candidate, Santorum said. He knows this. But that doesn’t keep him from parsing the words of every Iowan he meets.
“Some folks said, ‘We’re with you.’ Others said, ‘I like you.’ ” Santorum said. “I know the difference.”