Rick Santorum's triple primary/caucus sweep Tuesday demonstrates that social issues still matter to Republicans, says Santorum’s former competitor for the presidency, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.
The former Pennsylvania senator surged to upset victories in Missouri, Minnesota, and Colorado. Those wins represent a "shot across the bow" for the GOP,
she told CNN Wednesday.
Social issues didn’t play much of a role in previous primaries, Bachmann said. Presumably she was excluding South Carolina.
"This was the first social issue election that we've had so far, that's what you saw in Minnesota," said the tea party favorite. "That's what you saw in Missouri and Colorado. You saw social conservatives weigh in in a big way for the first time, and I think it's because of Barack Obama's policies."
Issues are driving the election results, Bachmann said. "The Republican Party has always been a three-legged stool. We're a party that believes in strong national defense, strong fiscal conservative policy, and also strong social policy,” she noted.
“What you saw last night was the social conservative wing of our party saying 'We are very concerned about this issue.'"
Bachmann is concerned herself that the party is splintering in its support for the different candidates.
"I think each of these candidates represents part of our party and that's why we have to come together and have unity. We are seeing tremendous fractionalization," Bachmann said.
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