Romney may actually be more conservative than Newt. Newt has said repeatedly that he sees FDR as the best president of the 20th century and likens himself to TR. Both were big government Progressives and between them brought about the most egregious of the policies that we now suffer under.
As a historian Newt knows this and that brings enough question about his character and worldview that I don't think I could support him — I may hold my nose to vote like I did with Mccain but the base won't be energized and the contrast between two Statists will be minimal. That is why the Kenyan won the first term.
What we need is a PRINCIPALED conservative like Santorum or Perry. Not a pseudo Conservative like Newt.
BTW I don't really trust the polls but an alternative analysis of the numbers shows that if Newt got out and his votes went to either one of the Ricks — then Romney would be done as well.
I really think most ‘objective’ observers would respectively disagree with you that Mitt is more conservative than Newt. If you look the way they governed that would be a hard case to make. Just saying, I do believe most I know and have heard, would disagree. Rick S. is Dan Qualye at best, and Rick Perry is Fred Thompson all over again. You don’t nap during a campaign. If I am wrong that is fine, I will support them in a general election. I will not be supporting Mitt Romney, and most of my friends will not either. A lot of people think we are blowing smoke, don’t bank on it. Mitt will lose.
Liberal Willard = 30%
Conservative NEWT = Strong 23%
Conservative Santorum = 19%
Conservative (Spoiler) Perry = Pathetic 5% but Romney’s best friend if it’s close in South Carolina