“With all the other factors going against him, the personality factor helped sink Santorum in 2006.  Yes, it was a bad year for Republicans, but Santorum’s 18-point loss was larger than any other GOP senator.  It was more than just a defeat; it was a personal repudiation.  In private conversations with friends, Santorum is said to understand that he sometimes came on too strong for the voters’ comfort.  It’s something Santorum still struggles with; he can still be argumentative, still be determined to win a dispute he probably shouldn’t be having in the first place.”

– Byron York