The Santorum Ministry

On the morning of what’s being billed as a crucial Michigan primary, I’m wondering how much Santorum’s ever more narrow, fundamentalist message is a clever strategy to rally America’s Christian conservatives, or he’s ultimately more about divinity than delegates.

In the meantime, what I’m also curious about is the tone of the wire pics in portraying Rick’s campaign ministry. Yes, there was the Stephen Crowley shot from Florida which turned Santorum into just another pol in church. Lately, though, I’m seeing as much or more piety than irony.

Take the nun shot, for example. Aside from the fact too fast a glance (with all those men up front) might cause one to place this in Tehran, it looks pretty straight to me. Call it Rick turning out the faithful. And then, the family prayer, if exhibit one of turning the campaign into a morality play, seems to convey as much family glue as the best shot of the Obamas.

(photo 1: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images caption: A group of Catholic nuns listens to Republican Presidential Candidate and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) speak as he unveiling his “First 100 Days Economic Freedom Agenda of the Santorum Administration” at a rally at the Knights of Columbus Council #3078 February 24, 2012 in Lincoln Park, Michigan.photo 2: Curtis Compton / Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP caption: Pastor Richard Lee, right, prays with Rick Santorum, his wife Karen, and three of their children, from left, John, Sarah Maria and Daniel, at the conclusion of Santorum’s address during a “God and Country” rally at First Redeemer Church in Cumming, Ga. Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012.)