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VIDEO: McCain Says Santorum's Campaign is "Irrelevant"

Rick Santorum's campaign has become "irrelevant", says Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.

"Whether Rick Santorum stays in or not, is now basically irrelevant and Mitt [Romney] has a lot of ground to make up," the former Republican presidential nominee told CNN's Soledad O'Brien. "I'm confident he can make it up, but every day that goes by that he's not in the general campaign is a day lost."

Romney won the Wisconsin, Maryland and District of Columbia primaries on Tuesday. New polling released today shows Romney is leading in former Sen. Santorum's own state of Pennsylvania. Romney leads with 42% of likely GOP voters, according to PPP.

One problem: McCain admits that Romney's "unfavorables are very high" among GOP voters. No surprise there ...

Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

Gingrich Wins South Carolina

PHOTO: Getty

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has swept to victory in the South Carolina primary and has upended the Republican presidential nominating process.

Early statewide results show Gingrich with a substantial lead over the former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumed front-runner. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are projected to be in third and fourth places, respectively. Gingrich has positioned himself to become the Republican alternative to Mitt Romney that Tea Party and social conservatives have sought for months.

This has been an epic week for the 2012 Republican presidential candidates. Late certification of results from the Iowa caucuses led to Romney's slight victory being given to Santorum. Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the race. And the second wife of the anti-gay thrice-married serial adulterer Gingrich revealed that her "family values" husband asked for an open marriage.

The Republican presidential campaign now moves to Florida which will host its primary on January 31.

VIDEO: Santorum's Former Gay Aide Robert Traynham on "Hardball"

Longtime readers of Rod 2.0 may remember the outrageous story of Robert Traynnham from 2005. Traynham, who is Black, was serving as Communications Director for one of the leading anti-gay voices in Washington: Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Rick Santorum. Traynham and was outed as gay man by Mike Rogers.

When pressed on whether he supported the Senator's stands on lesbian and gay issues, Mr. Traynham abruptly ended the phone call by saying "Senator Santorum is a family man. I have been with Senator Santorum for eight years and I am very proud to be with him."

Santorum later issued a statement supporting his gay staffer, claiming that he "treats people equally, with dignity and respect."

Traynham is still defending his former boss. The Black gay Republican communications strategist—who has also worked at the National Republican Senatorial Committee—appeared on Hardball to explain Santorum's extreme positions. Santorum has campaigned on seeking to reinstate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and invalidating same-sex marriages.

Traynham says he "doesn't know" Santorum's position on DADT but "fundamentally doesn't agree" with his position on marriage. Traynham adds that he has "never ever" heard his former boss utter a gay slur. "Rick's not extreme," said Traynham.

Keep telling yourself that, hon. Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

Romney Wins Iowa by 8 Votes

PHOTO: Reuters

Mitt Romney edged out a miniscule 8-vote victory over a late surge for Rick Santorum in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses. The former Massachusetts governor's win capped a "tumultuous presidential caucus campaign" and was the narrowest in the history of the event, reports the Des Moines Register.

Romney won 30,015 votes, compared with 30,007 for Santorum, out of 122,255 cast. Each of the men won 25 percent of the vote and proclaimed victory. Ron Paul was third, followed by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman.

Romney’s campaign strategists had carefully staged expectations to persuade the public and media that the former Massachusetts governor could emerge strongly from Iowa with a close second- or third-place finish. He campaigned here about a fourth as much as during his first presidential bid four years ago, when he finished second in Iowa. But Romney managed to capture the top prize anyway.

Romney won about the same number of votes in Iowa last night as he did in 2007.

Romney reportedly spent about $4.6 million in Iowa or $156 per vote. The right-wing anti-gay former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum—who campaigned on invalidating same-sex marriages and seeking to reinstate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"—spent about $617,000 or $21 per vote.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann placed a distant fifth and sixth, respectively. Both are reportedly "reassessing" their candidacies this morning.

The Republican presidential campaign now moves to New Hampshire, which will hold its first in the nation primary on January 10. Former House Speaker Gingrich, who finished a disappointing fourth, has vowed to take his campaign to the Granite State.

VIDEO: DNC Releases Attack Ad on GOP Debate Audience

The Democratic National Committee has released a hard hitting attack ad that highlights the despicable audience reactions at the recent GOP presidential debates ... as well as the silence from the candidates.

Watch the spot WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Obama Criticizes GOP Candidates and Debate Booing of Gay Soldier

President Obama slammed his Republican opponents and the recent series of GOP debates at a fundraiser last night in San Jose, California, reports The Hill.

Obama said ... voters should back him if they believe in a "fact-based" America. "You've got audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don't have healthcare. And booing a service member in Iraq because they're gay."

The remarks represent some of the most direct and combative for Obama so far as he has struck out on the campaign trail in earnest following the July debt-ceiling debate and the August break.

The President also slammed Texas Gov. Rick Perry, reports the Washington Post.

"Has anybody been watching the debates lately?" Obama asked a crowd of about 300 at the home of Symantec Chairman John Thompson and his wife, Sandi. "You’ve got a governor whose state is on fire denying climate change." The president was referring to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose state has been ravaged by wildfires that have been so bad that Obama called him a few weeks ago to offer federal assistance.

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum claims he did not hear the jeers at Thursday night's debate following a question from a gay soldier serving in Iraq. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has suggested that Santorum is not being honest.

Santorum Claims He Didn't Hear Gay Soldier Booed at GOP Debate

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum appears to have paused as boos echoed throughout Thursday night Republican debate following a question from a gay soldier serving in Iraq ...

But Santorum now says he did not hear the jeers.

The right-wing former Pennsylvania senator told FOX News anchor Megyn Kelly:"I condemn the people who booed that gay soldier. That soldier is serving our country. I thank him for his service to our country. I'm sure he is doing an excellent job. I hope he is safe. I hope he returns safely, and does his mission well. I have to admit I seriously did not hear those boos. Had I heard them, I certainly would have commented on them."

But other GOP candidates did hear the jeers and are attempting to distance themselves, reports The Hill.

[Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson], who supported the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, unlike many Republican candidates, said that while he was "chomping at the bit" to denounce the boos, he didn't speak out because he was afraid of stepping out of turn at his first debate. "I’m feeling a little bit like I’m walking on egg shells," he said.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman called the booing "unfortunate and unnecessary. "We all wear the same uniform in America. We all salute the same flag. I have two boys starting their journey in the U.S military. We should take more time to thank them for their services as opposed to finding differences based on background or orientation," Huntsman said on ABC.

No word yet from the other Republican candidates.

Santorum may claim that he didn't hear the jeers, but he certainly knew that the question came from an active duty soldier in Iraq. Santorum did not thank the soldier for his service.

Watch the clip WHEN YOU JUMP ...

VIDEO: GOP Debate Boos Gay Soldier on Active Duty in Iraq

Absolutely shameful. At last night's FOX/Google GOP Presidential Debate in Orlando, members of the audience booed and hissed at a question posed by a gay soldier on active duty in Iraq.

The question was posed by Stephen Hill, who asked if the candidates would "circumvent" this week's historic repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" if elected. Without thanking the soldier for his service or condemning the audience reaction, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum slammed DADT repeal as "tragic".

I would just say that going forward, we would reinstitute that policy if Rick Santorum was president. Period. That policy would be reinstituted ... I would not throw them out because that would be unfair to them because of the policy of this administration, but we would move forward in conformity to what was happening in the past, which is — sex is not an issue.

None of the other candidates condemned the audience reaction or thanked the soldier for his service.

"Support" our troops ... unless they are gay and until they return home and need health care. And this from the party that rushed us this soldier into Iraq.

Via Think Progress, watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO: GOP Presidential Candidates Call for Fed Marriage Amendment

PHOTO: GETTY

During the first New Hampshire Republican presidential debate last night on CNN, the candidates were asked if they would try to overturn state laws.

Igor Volsky at Think Progress:

Hermain Cain and Ron Paul said that marriage should be left to the states, while Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum all called for a federal amendment outlawing same-sex marriages. Michele Bachmann — who recently pressed other states to follow Minnesota’s example and put the question on the ballot — managed to argue that she does support a constitutional amendment but "would not be going into the states to overturn their state law."

Thrice-married serial adulterer Newt Gingrich added: "I was one of the authors of the Defense of Marriage Act. The Obama Administration needs to defend that law, there is no other choice but an amendment."

Of course, Newt. Just like you had "no other choice" but to carry on that affair with an intern at the same time you were "defending marriage". Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

VIDEO: Rick Santorum Announces 2012 Presidential Run

Rick Santorum has officially announced his 2012 presidential run. The right-wing, former Pennsylvania senator made the announcement this morning on Good Morning America.

While he has had some success in straw polls in the early primary states, Santorum still polls in the single digits, well behind GOP frontrunner and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney who announced his run last week.

Asked by host George Stephanopoulos why he thought he could win the nomination when he lost his Senate seat to Democrat Bob Casey by 59 percent to 41 percent in 2006, Santorum said voters are looking for a candidate who " has stood by their principles in good times and in bad. .... In 2006, I think, in everyone's estimation, was a pretty bad time for a Republican, particularly for a conservative," he said, adding that his commitment to social security reform also got him into trouble with voters that year."

An example of some of Santorum's "principles" include his now-infamous comparison of same-sex marriage to "man on child, man on dog" marriage, seeking to reinstate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", and promising to "never" dial down his extremist views.

Watch the segment WHEN YOU JUMP ....