Posted on 01/11/2012 2:33:00 AM PST by sheikdetailfeather
While Newt Gingrich campaign staffers are calling such talk premature, there are indications that should the former House Speaker bow out of the GOP race, he would throw his support behind rising Rick Santorum in a last-ditch effort to stop frontrunner Mitt Romney.
Multiple South Carolina sources affiliated with Santorum's campaign said Gingrich's campaign has contacted Santorum's campaign to discuss endorsing the former Pennsylvania senator should he drop out.
One source, speaking to Patch on the condition they not be identified, paraphrased Gingrich's stance as delivered by high level campaign staff this way: "If it can't be me, I want it to be Rick Santorum.""
Gingrich is looking at finishing as low as fifth place in New Hampshire and is currently polling at under 20 percent (good for third place) in South Carolina, according to rolling averages from Real Clear Politics.
Still, high-ranking officials within Santorum's South Carolina campaign don't foresee Gingrich stalling out before the primaries in the Palmetto State, where he once commanded an imposing lead in the polls.
(Excerpt) Read more at mountpleasant-sc.patch.com ...
I think you've got that ass-backwards. Professor Newt is who's ego let his mouth get him into trouble on more than one occasion.
He has restructured his advertising in SC, focusing on local buys and not on national buys. I think Perry will do well in SC, if not we end up with a field of DC candidates.
The media is trying hard to make it sound like the race is over, but it's really just getting started. IA and NH are proportional states for delegates and the red states are just getting stated.
I don’t think Santorum is going to exit. He is the Tibow of the candidates.
My bad.
(Communication and grammar) ; )
I think if he doesn't do well in SC his money may dry up and he will be forced to quit.
I'm shocked! /s
Seriously, this smells exactly like an attempt to discourage Newt supports.
I am not wrong, seriously or otherwise. Unlike most folks in this forum and advocating Santorum, I was actually represented by him and have watched his political career. The man could not handle Casey, the most boring politician on the planet, in a campaign where Casey literally NO SHOWED the campaign. Not only did he lose, he LOST HUGE!!
He will be evicerated in a general election, just as badly. This guy does not have the political skill, or personal likability to survive the onslaught that will be without question the biggest spending and dirtiest campaign in history. Santorum will lose if he is the nominee, while his social conservative stands make him popular here on Free Republic, he does not have the intellect, skill or natural likeability to articulate them well enough to a point where he won’t be rapidly painted as a radical, and unelectable.
He has no chance of carrying PA or OH in a general election, barring all his other issues.
If you believe Santorum can win a general election, answer me this simple question... Why are you supporting him? He’s been in every debate, he’s been around since day one, and not once, did he ever do anything that stood out.. not one time. He didn’t get a boomlet over some one hit policy push like 9-9-9.. he didn’t get his boomlet over repeatedly great debate performances like Newt, he didn’t get it over over the top political hyperbole like Bachman... He got his boomlet simply because he was still standing.. nothing more...
And his still standing will rapidly fall once the focus is on him, and people dig into his background and record. I could live with ANY republican in the field over Obama, but I don’t let my emotions rule the day. There are and have only ever been 2 players in this field who can be said can pass the electability requirement.. And like it or not, Santorum isn’t one of them.
Could I live with a santorum presidency? Sure, while he is a social conservative, and not a fiscal one, I could live with him over Obama in a heartbeat, but I know he has ZERO chance at surviving what is going to be the bloodiest and ugliest campaign of my lifetime.
Obama is a no talent hack, but he’s a no talent hack with a huge ego and lots of money.. and when they turn the guns on Santorum, he’ll be destroyed. Don’t believe me, just look at his last election.. he couldn’t handle a statewide race against a much smaller funding and liberal attack campaign against an oponent with ZERO charisma or campaign ability. He will be destroyed by the Obama machine.
My understanding is he’s in til Florida...if I were him I’d linger til Super Tuesday because of the proportional voting...hell, he’s got 2 delegates ! lol
Romney is underhanded and corrupt. If people elect this clown, they are electing the EXACT SAME element that they constantly argue and b*%th about bankrupting America, looting America, dipping into the coffers, sending jobs overseas, etc, the greedy Wall Street looters ....the SAME TYPE!!! Whose to say Romney won’t continue to work WITH these elements once he’s in office to totally finish the job on America, even WORSE than Obama has done.
Debbie Wasserman, already on — dragging Romney down, pointing out his weaknesses ...the writing is ALREADY ON THE WALL!!
Romney is NOT a conservative. He’s an opportunist. If we don’t point it out — the Democrats will do the job for us — Newt is 100% on the MARK with this!!!!
Rome2000 wrote:
<<
Preposterous
Santorum just got trounced in NH (dropped 15 points from Iowa) and Paul, Huntsman and Perry are in single digits in SC, they are done and should basically drop out now.
Santorum was at 4% 3 weeks ago and will be back to single digits by primary day.
Gingrich was at 31% in SC 3 weeks ago, slipped to 18% after Iowa and is now back up to 23%, while the degenerate scumbag Romney has dropped 10 points in the last 5 days.
This is an easy win for Gingrich and the end of the line for the rest of the clowns.
>>
************************************************************
I’m afraid not. Gingrich has done himself irreparable damage over the past couple of days by trying to take Romney out while attacking the concept of capitalism in the process. I have loved Gingrich in the debates and would take him in a heartbeat over Romney, but Gingrich is a loose cannon and has stepped in it again by making public comments that betray conservative principles. Not to mention, he has performed very poorly in both the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries and has little momentum going into South Carolina and Florida. If the objective is to stop Romney from getting the nominee, I’m beginning to think the best thing Gingrich can do at this point is drop out of the race, throw his support behind Santorum, and let his Super PACs come up with more and better ads to run against Romney.
I sure hope he doesn't go off the hood. ;p
We have to change that somewhere along the line. If we can make the first states conservative and have them in line with Florida, Ohio, Virginia...etc...we’d have a really good chance with our candidate.
I think your analysis is flawed for a couple reasons. First any nominee other than Romney & Paul will beat obama. I would support Santorum in the general election over obama if for no other reason than he is not obama. Santorum lost in PA because it was a huge anti Pub year and the conservative base did not come out for him after he supported Specter over Toomey.
Santorum is not my preferred candidate, but this election is going to be a huge year for the Pubs if we don't end up with Romney. The moderates will vote for the Pub and if the nominee is reasonably conservative the base will crawl through glass to get to the polls. Romney would lose because he's pro-abortion. Paul would lose because he's loony. All the other candidates will win.
Let’s face it. The only viable non-Romney candidate left is Ron Paul. Just reading this thread points out the obvious problems with both Gingrich and Santorum as far as winning the general election. Imagine both Santorum and Gingrich pulling out and endorsing Ron Paul. You would guarantee Paul’s victory over Mitt. Recent polls also show Paul neck and neck with Obama in the genera. Done deal with Ron Paul.
That does make sense. I'm hanging in with him. It doesn't look good right now. I hope conservatives in SC see that Gingrich and Santorum are DC guys.
Doesn’t sound like he considers a father’s role equally important to children. Gender baiting on Santorum’s part if he did say that.
Ditto that
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.