Michele Bachmann. Rick Perry. Herman Cain. Ron Paul. Even Jon Huntsman. And now, Newt Gingrich. They are all conservative. They have each had their moment in the spotlight. They have each posed a serious threat to the anointed GOP presidential contender, Mitt Romney. All but one.

Rick Santorum.

By all accounts, Rick Santorum is a conservative ideologue’s dream candidate. He’s socially conservative, being staunchly pro-life. He wants to reinstate “Don’t ask, don’t tell”. He’s fiscally conservative,  having opposed the out-of-control spending by congress and was totally against the bailouts on Wall Street. Unlike some of his fellow contenders, his knowledge of foreign policy is second to none.

When called on in the debates, he is articulate and forceful. He does not stumble on any issue, or have ‘senior moments’ when follow-up questions are asked.

Even Sarah Palin, who has the ability to play kingmaker in this election since she herself decided against running, has stated that Republican voters concerned with “ideological consistency” might end up turning to him.

In an appearance on Fox News, Palin said, “If voters start kind of shifting gears and deciding they want ideological consistency, then they’re going to start paying attention to say, Rick Santorum, who has been consistent on being a hard-liner against Iran to help protect Israel, he’s been consistent in wanting to protect the most vulnerable and the sanctity of life, he’s been consistent in saying we need to slash the federal income tax.”

Why then, has Santorum failed to gain any traction in this race? Why hasn’t he once yet risen to the top tier?

A number of different explanations have been offered.

Some have attributed it to Santorum’s failure to defeat Bob Casey, Jr. in the 2006 Senate race. His fundraising abilities as well as his chances to build a strong organization suffered.

Others have said news organizations have given short shrift to Santorum, while choosing to focus their attention on what they perceive to be more interesting candidates, such as Cain and Gingrich, whose lively battles with the media are legend.

But there is another aspect of Santorum’s lack of traction that seems somehow to be highly overlooked.

He’s just not likable.

He comes across as too angry, too strident. He doesn’t appear the happy, conservative warrior akin to Ronald Reagan.

While it’s true there is much to be angry about, this attitude is a real turn-off.

All of the other candidates smile more, laugh more, and despite the condition that Barack Obama has left this country in, seem positive and upbeat about the future under their leadership.

Santorum doesn’t seem to get that.

Perhaps the 2006 Senate defeat has left him bitter. But the electorate doesn’t want an angry man heading to Washington. They want solutions to problems being articulated by a cheerful leader.

There is another troubling aspect to Rick Santorum that may also be hurting him, especially with women.

He comes across as sexist.

Santorum told S.E. Cupp, who hosts an online radio show on Glenn Beck’s website, that Sarah Palin skipped CPAC because of her “business opportunities” and “other responsibilities” such as raising her five children.

“I don’t live in Alaska and I’m not the mother to all these kids and I don’t have other responsibilities that she has,” said Santorum.

Now while that alone doesn’t qualify Santorum as a chauvinist, his stance on a woman’s place is well documented in his book It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good. Working women and single moms might not take too well to being preached to.

It’s not too late for him yet to turn things around. In an election season that has seen roller coaster rides for several of the candidates, it’s not inconceivable for Santorum to have his turn in the sun.

But it would behoove him to heed tow words of advice from here on out.

Lighten up!

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