The unforgiving minute

Oh please, oh please, oh please:

Add former Sen. Rick Santorum to the list of potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates.

POLITICO has learned Santorum will visit first-in-the-nation Iowa this fall for a series of appearances before the sort of conservative activists who dominate the state GOP’s key presidential caucuses.

"The sort of conservative activists who dominate the state GOP's key presidential caucuses." Now there's a tasteful euphemism.

More:

Since last November’s election — roughly three years before the next Republican caucuses — Iowa has seen visits from 2008 caucus winner and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, House Minority Conference Chair Mike Pence (R-Ind.), former New York Gov. George Pataki and, before admitting his adulterous affair, Nevada Sen. John Ensign.

Doctor Beyond emailed me to say he'd contribute five bucks to Santorum, just to get the ball rolling. I think that's like paying more for first-turn tickets at the Indy 500, because that's where all the cool wrecks happen. Not a terribly wholesome motive, but the attraction is undeniable.

Minute's up.