Santorum’s Economic Pitch to American Families

David P. Goldman offers some wise advice to Mitt Romney at his blog: 

For social, macroeconomic, and national security reasons, America has to revive manufacturing. And Rick Santorum is right to emphasize it.  I would like to hear Santorum talk less about contraception and more about the way that Obama’s economic mismanagement is undermining American families. In fact, I would like to hear more about that from Romney, who I believe is the strongest candidate to face Obama in November. A lot of Americans are hurting, and hurting a lot, and Rick Santorum has found a way to get their attention. Governor Romney should listen closely.

As someone who agrees with Santorum on abortion, contraception, gay marriage, and all the other issues that so inflame the left, I think Goldman’s advice is dead-on. Talk less about the hot-button issues and discuss family breakdown in terms of diminished economic opportunity. Key voters—-working class whites, hispanic swing voters—-will respond to cultural and economic policies that help stabilize the working class.