Santorum Still Not Ready to Endorse

National Journal ^ | April 16, 2012 | Rebecca Kaplan

[svxdave]

Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Monday sounded no closer to endorsing Mitt Romney than when he dropped out of the race last week, telling supporters on a conference call that he hasn’t even had a chance to speak to his onetime rival.

Santorum said he has talked with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. “I haven't had a chance yet to talk to Governor Romney, but we'll be talking to both of them and we’re going to go out and do what we believe is in the best interest of our country,” Santorum said in the call, which had at least 4,000 participants at its peak, according to host and Santorum aide Mark Rodgers.

To crystallize the point that he isn’t going to make an endorsement in the immediate future, Santorum told his supporters that it was entirely up to them whom to vote for in next week’s Pennsylvania primary. “I haven’t supported any candidate at this point,” he said.

When Rodgers, acting as the call's host, asked him in jest whether he would un-suspend his campaign if enough people voted for him in Pennsylvania, Santorum offered little in the way of advice.

“I would just say this: The best thing that they can do is stay tuned, and we really are serious about making sure that the issues that we brought up during this campaign are continued going forward,” he said.

Throughout the call, the former senator from Pennsylvania alluded to having plans to build a conservative movement outside of the framework of the presidential election in order to make sure his message is still heard. He said he was working through ideas for a “structure to promote these ideas” and promised an announcement in the next week or two. As for delegates, those may not be released even if he does back another GOP candidate.

“We still have delegates, many of them committed, and we want to make sure that our delegates get a chance to go to the convention and have a say,” Santorum said.

Reflecting once again on the reasons he exited the race, Santorum tried to downplay the importance of his financial troubles -- a “very, very small piece of the story,” he said -- but suggested for the first time that his campaign had actively, and unsuccessfully, tried to convince other candidates to drop out and support him.

“We sought to get a coalition of the rest of the conservatives in the race to join in, the other candidates who were still in the race; we solicited them to see whether they might be willing to join our team and help us be successful in a coalition of conservatives,” Santorum said. It was almost certainly a reference to Gingrich, the other candidate considered to be a more conservative alternative to Romney.

Santorum’s comments come amid warnings from the likes of Iowa conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats, who recently told the Sioux City Journal that the base of the Republican Party may stay home on Election Day.

But that doesn’t seem to worry Santorum. In the meantime, he’s been spending time with his family. He was joined on the call by his wife, Karen, and his three-year-old daughter Bella -- who was hospitalized shortly before he dropped out -- could be heard in the background as she ate dinner. And like so many Americans, Santorum said he spent the weekend finishing his taxes.

[svxdave]

Santorum could endorse Newt but he won't.

[BillyBoy]

Newt could have endorsed Santorum when it clear he had the best shot at stopping Romney, but Newt didn’t.

[max americana]

Rick doesn’t need to endorse anyone at this moment after a brutal year of campaigning. Just allow the guy to chill with his family and get politics off the table.

[Gator113]

“Santorum could endorse Newt but he won’t.”

Santorum can’t endorse Newt, Newt is a conservative.

[Lazlo in PA]

Santorum could endorse Newt but he won't.

You mean the same way Newt endorsed Rick before he dropped out? Oh. That's right. Newt said that Milt was going to be the nominee on Face the nation.

[svxdave]

Newt and Santorum took each other out.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Which minor cabinet post or ambassadorship is he negotiating for in exchange for his delegates and endorsement?

[berdie]

I agree with you...completely.

Time will tell.

[JCBreckenridge]

Well, the votes are breaking away from Newt. Newt’s almost back up to where he was before MS and AL, about the same as Ron Paul. Romney’s got about 3/4ths of Santorum’s support.

Seems that his strategy was a failure. Imagine if his supporters had actually cheered for Santorum instead of cheering for Romney.

[true believer forever]

You mean the same way Newt endorsed Rick before he dropped out? Oh. That's right. Newt said that Milt was going to be the nominee on Face the nation.

You mean the same way Rick endorsed Newt before he left the field in Florida?

Newt did not say Romney would be definitely the nominee. He said it was very likely he would be, but there was still the possibility that things could happen, as they sometimes do in politics..

Are you deliberately misrepresenting what he said, or do you just regurgitate what people tell you...

How's it feel to support a folder?

Newt's still on teh battlefield, bloodied, battered and fighting on...

[true believer forever]

Well, the votes are breaking away from Newt. Newt’s almost back up to where he was before MS and AL, about the same as Ron Paul. Romney’s got about 3/4ths of Santorum’s support.

Seems that his strategy was a failure. Imagine if his supporters had actually cheered for Santorum instead of cheering for Romney.

That's a really interesting bit of information you just posted, especially since everyone has been noting that there haven't been ANY polls since Santorum dropped out..

Where'd you get the numbers, in the fevered corners of your addled I-supported-a-loser-and-a-quitter-and-now-I-have-to-make-things-up-so-I-don't-look-like-a-fool mind?

You are pathetic.

[JCBreckenridge]

I thought you’d never ask.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2012/images/04/16/rel4a.pdf

[true believer forever]

Santorum can’t endorse Newt, Newt is a conservative.

Santorum will endorse Romney. Meantime, instead of putting his supporters to work for Newt, he is going to try and build some kind of conservative movement, so he can keep his hands clean.

The only missing part - and this should be interesting to watch - is how well and how long he withstands Romney's and the GOP's commands to endorse... he wants to put it off as long as possible, but he obviously is not a man of any kind of strength... And they will make him promises, and then threats...

[Lazlo in PA]

Newt is having discussions on the Sunday Morning programs about how Milt and him are both grandfathers who care for the country. How do you call that “fighting on”? It came off as a tacit endorsement to everyone listening.

Rick folded because he was done and he was in much better shape that Newt. Can you please explain to me this path to the nomination in front of Newt? He can’t even explain it with any confidence.

[JCBreckenridge]

How does it feel to support a stalking horse?

[true believer forever]

I don’t open pdf folders, what does it say?

[JCBreckenridge]

On page 8 it says the following:

Based on 473 Republicans, Error +/- 5.

“Please tell me which candidate you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for President. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, or former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (RANDOM ORDER)”

April 13-15 Mar. 24-25 Feb. 10-13
Romney 57% 36% 32%
Gingrich 19% 15% 15%
Paul 18% 17% 16%
Santorum N/A 26% 34%
Someone else (vol.) 3% 1% *
None/ No one (vol.) 3% 2% 2%
No opinion * 2% 2%

[true believer forever]

Newt is having discussions on the Sunday Morning programs about how Milt and him are both grandfathers who care for the country. How do you call that “fighting on”? It came off as a tacit endorsement to everyone listening.

Rick folded because he was done and he was in much better shape that Newt. Can you please explain to me this path to the nomination in front of Newt? He can’t even explain it with any confidence.

Okay I am going to say this as slowly and clearly as I can, so perhaps even you can understand...

CBS was trying to bait him to say something negative about Romney... anything negative about Romney, and Newt didn't bite...

"Rick folded because he was done..." he was sure was done. Mission Accomplished. He cleared a path for Romney, and it hasn't even been a week, adn they are about to coronate romney. America should never forget Santorum's contribution to the downfall.

I hope this explains the path to the nomination, as you call it, for Newt... Maybe you should grab a cup of reality and humility and support a brave adn true patriot for once.. (I won't hold my breath)

TEXT LINKS:

How you can help:

Go to Newt.org and learn about Newt and his big ideas and big solutions for America’s problems.

Go to the brand new Newt’s 2012 Grassroots site and get involved. http://grassroots.newt.org

Go to Newt's Network and make phone calls. Upgraded National Phone Banks up and running soon. Just click on "Make the Call".

htp://www.newtsnetwork.com

Donate as much as you can, as often as you can, every little bit helps.

www.newt.org/donate

DOWNLOAD NEWT’S 21st century CONTRACT WITH AMERICA

http://www.newt.org/sites/newt.org/files/images/downloadbrochure.png

50 Flyers of the 21st Century Contract with America - $5.00

http://www.newtstore2012.com/product-p/ng50flyer2012.htm

[Gator113]

JCBreckenridge
Since Mar 10, 2012

[JCBreckenridge]

And a good morning to you as well, Gator.

Peace + Blessings.

[true believer forever]

I like Newt at 19% - I have been believing for 30% and this is the closest he's been to 30 in awhile...

I am not sure about all of romney's support coming from Rick, as his coronation has been in full swing for the past week, I mean everyone is caving in, and that maybe reflected, still he has his 57% of Republicans...

Thanks for posting this. I was worried and this isn't too bad at all, it could have been better, but it certainly could have been worse, a nice little bump for Newt...

One step at a time...

Now get a clue and get on board with Newt...

[Gator113]

JCBreckenridge
Since Mar 10, 2012

“How does it feel to support a stalking horse?”

Perhaps you should ask the owner of this forum.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2872793/posts

[true believer forever]

JCBreckenridge

Since Mar 10, 2012

Yeppers. I have had a few run-ins with him already, and I knew his birthday, why I wouldn't open a pdf file from him... the dysfunction is difficult to pinpoint but it certainly is there...

Still lovin' on Newt?

[JCBreckenridge]

You’re quite welcome. If things were otherwise and there were a poll showing Newt at 30 percent, I’d be thrilled to post it.

Alas, not the case. Gotta go with the information we do have over how we would otherwise prefer things to be.

I just don’t see Newt catching fire with the folks that he needed to get. Which is unfortunate.

Blessings to you.

[ngat]

Do you think Newt said that just to make Santorum think it was true, so as to get Santorum to drop out, which he did, leaving Gingrich the only conservative in the race?

Gingrich might have pulled a fast one.

[JCBreckenridge]

Now your man has a chance to show us what he can do with no Santuckabee in the head to head vs Romney.

[Razzz42]

I wonder if there is back-biting going on because of the amount of delegates not committed to the front runner. Must be jockeying going on to influence the party platform before releasing the delegates.

Of course, I have no idea how these things really work as another puppet appears being setup. To what end, I don’t know.

[TigersEye]

Maybe he could make a few more stupid ill-informed accusations about George Zimmerman before he does anything else.

[Lazlo in PA]

You can talk down to me all you like. The fact is, when your talking points involve “Miracle A and B”, you are living on borrowed time. On Tuesday my family and I are voting Santorum here in PA as a final thank you and to vote against Milt. He fought a hard fight and we are supporting the home town boy. Rick has a better shot of upset here in PA than Newt does. After that, I will focus on getting boob Casey thrown out of office.

[true believer forever]

If things were otherwise and there were a poll showing Newt at 30 percent, I’d be thrilled to post it.

Oh, I am sure you would be thrilled... you're so magnanimous tonight, looks like you got Rick's email - show Newt's supporters your kind side, and try to get them to give up the way Rick did...

Only Newt' supporters are quite a bit smarter than Rick's..just so you know.

[Lazlo in PA]

Yeah. You got it. It is all a Jedi Mind Trickery from Newt.

[Gator113]

“Now your man....”

Just to be clear, for me this has never been about any given man, this has been about the survival of our country. It has been about the conservative movement and principles, and electing someone that I believe can turn this country away from the abyss, intelligently and quickly.

[true believer forever]

Throughout the call, the former senator from Pennsylvania alluded to having plans to build a conservative movement outside of the framework of the presidential election in order to make sure his message is still heard.

That's the money quote: he is going to start an organization, outside the election, to keep his followers close, and not lose them to Newt. Instead of getting in the battle, and in the fray, and helping Newt, the last conservative standing, he wants the luxury of quitting and still maintaining his supporters, and they are likely to follow him...

This in the election of 2012, when the fate of the nation hangs in the balance, and Newt the only possible way to dispense with Romney, Santorum will do what he always does best, look out for Rick...

[JCBreckenridge]

Why would I want Newt to drop out at this point when it’s clearly in his best interest for him and his supporters to stay in and continue to accumulate debt?

Far be it from me to dissaude them. I’m simply arguing that the facts are on my side and that there was a time when he could have won the nomination, but that time has slipped by.

[true believer forever]

You can talk down to me all you like. The fact is, when your talking points involve “Miracle A and B”, you are living on borrowed time. On Tuesday my family and I are voting Santorum here in PA as a final thank you and to vote against Milt. He fought a hard fight and we are supporting the home town boy. Rick has a better shot of upset here in PA than Newt does. After that, I will focus on getting boob Casey thrown out of office.

No. When your talking points involve Miracle A and Miracle B it means you are right up there with a lot of heroes who have accomplished amazing things, precisely because of Miracles A B C D and so on and so on ...

Well, here's hoping Rick gets your thank you vote. That is certainly meaningful to the battle at hand.

[JCBreckenridge]

Then you ought to be upset that the current division between conservatives has permitted Romney to win the nomination outright.

We needed to come together and work together, but that didn’t happen when it needed to happen.

We needed you badly.

[Lazlo in PA]

Well, here's hoping Rick gets your thank you vote

If you read my post, there will be no hope needed. It will be done.

BTW, what's the bet that Rick beats Newt in PA on Tuesday?

[Gator113]

Let’s see, you were for Saintorum because he was pure, but he quit.

You don’t like Newt because he is..... oh so evil.

Okay, so you must now be for Romney...... or you simply want to stir shi!, while you whimper and wait for the pain of the loss of your alter boy fades.

I will wait for the convention and if Newt doesn’t pull it off, I will watch Romney lose.

Then we can all watch four more years of that corrupt bastard, Obama, burn this country to the ground.

[true believer forever]

“BTW, what’s the bet that Rick beats Newt in PA on Tuesday?”

I’m sure he will. Newt hasn’t even campaigned there. What’s the bet Rick will beat Romney? That’s who he wanted to go head to head with...

[Gator113]

“Still lovin’ on Newt?”

All the way to Tampa......

[Gator113]

I will not take the time to list all of the reasons and examples as to why, it would serve no purpose, but here is just one very telling moment about the pretender. The constitution and the rule of law should be important to real conservatives.

THIS, a conservative does not make.

http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/25/santorum-zimmerman-has-a-very-sick-mind-motive-a-malicious-one/

GO NEWT....all the way to Tampa.

[true believer forever]

I will not take the time to list all of the reasons and examples as to why, it would serve no purpose, but here is just one very telling moment about the pretender. The constitution and the rule of law should be important to real conservatives.

THIS, a conservative does not make.

http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/25/santorum-zimmerman-has-a-very-sick-mind-motive-a-malicious-one/

the interesting thing about that, and I didn't know when Santorum made his illustrious comments, is that having a depraved or vicious mind is part of the description for 2nd degree murder. In other words, rick knew what he was saying, by specifically using that word "mind" - I never heard anyone else use it, and today, several legal eagles talking about the charge, used that phrase regarding "mind"set.

GO NEWT....all the way to Tampa. Music to My Ears!!

[wolficatZ]

Rick Santorum is unfit for ANY public office.

 

VIDEO: Santorum: Zimmerman 'has a very sick mind ... - The Daily Caller

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/03/25/Santorum-Pronounces-Zimmerman-Guilty-Before-Charge

 

My God, what a deranged, sickening human being. Only an ignorant fool would support this sanctimonious, deceptive, babbling creep..

 

NO RETRACTION, NO CORRECTION, NO NOTHING AFTER HE MADE THESE SICKENING STATEMENTS. IT STANDS AS HIS LEGACY FOR ALL ETERNITY.

 

Watch the video people! It WILL make you ill!

[Happy Rain]

Sounds like Rick has suspended campaigning but not his campaign.

He is still on the ballots, if he endorses anyone that is the same as saying don't waste your vote on me and I think he is curious how many delegates the work he has done til now will get him from now on—maybe setting things up for 2016 when he may have to primary Mitt out of the White House during his reelection campaign.

Clever—he doesn't owe Newt nor Romney anything cuz both spent millions running despicably mendacious and disingenuous ads against him.

Go Rick!

[central_va]

Romney will pay off Santorum’s campaign debt in exchange for his endorsement.

[impimp]

Newt sits on a couch with Pelosi. Newt believes in global warming. Newt has been an adulterer. Newt broke his marriage vows. Newt supported an individual mandate. Newt supported cap and trade. Newt said he would have voted for TARP.

Some conservative.

Maybe you’re not a conservative, based on Newt’s track record and your criticism of Santorum. Maybe you are a raving liberal.

[bert]

-———Newt has been an adulterer.-——

Citation please.

[Venturer]

Santorum didn’t mind endorsing Spectre.

The heck with Santorum, he was a loser from start to finish.

His campaign only hurt America by splitting the vote and letting Romney sneak in the back door.

Now what have we got? A nothing running against Obama.

[billys kid]

Romney will pay off Santorum’s campaign debt in exchange for his endorsement.
__________________________________________________________

What? With 30 pieces of silver and then try to justify his actions by building a conservative coalition?

History reminds us that you can’t have it both ways. The lives of the innocent are counting on him.

Choose wisely Mr. Santorum, this is not the time to take one for the team.
We still have Newt who is pro-life and against the homosexual agenda in this race.

Pray for America!

[ngat]

Well, you can’t blame us for for suspecting the Santormites fell for something like that.

As much as we all love the state, if republican quakerstaters keep falling for “leaders” like Spector and some others, the rest of the country might get the idea they’ll fall for anything.