To the editor:

In his article “Santorum offers worthy alternative to Mitt” (Journal-World, Jan. 7), Charles Krauthammer concludes that the caucus works as a way to pick a candidate for president because “it winnows” and “has produced, after just one contest, an admirably worthy conservative alternative to Mitt Romney.”

But does the caucus really work? The debates consist of candidates heckling each other, while the “winnowing” thus far has been due mostly to negative ads. These are paid for by so-called independent PACs headed by persons connected with the candidates. Mitt Romney is reported to have spent over $1 million of his own money on the Iowa caucuses while his PAC, “Restore our Future,” has spent about $2.85 million, mainly for attacks on other candidates, especially Newt Gingrich (Times Digest, Jan. 3). Now Gingrich has collected $3 million to attack Romney in New Hampshire and elsewhere. Finally, as of now, President Obama is said to have a war chest of $100 million.

Will it be a politically aware American public or one brainwashed by big money ads that will select the GOP and Democratic candidates for president in 2012?