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 ...
That idiot is done.
Gingrich just got $5 Million dollars and is spending $3.4M in SC in advertising. He has another $15M coming from the same source.
There is no way Gingrich will bow out when Perry is sitting at 5%, Huntsman at the bottom and Santorum has a million dollars to spend. The polls show a difference between 25% and 20% between Romney and Gingrich with Romney leading.
If anything, I would say Newt is trying to get the others to drop out. The Tea Party Express and I hope Palin will be making a choice before SC. Their endorsement could shake up things entirely. I would be shocked if Palin supported Santorum. And, Perry is not getting traction in SC. Perry may not even be eligible for the next debates.
Agreed.
It is my opinion Romney is the reason Obama is president.
In my opinion again, Romney was so worried Palin would win and eventually become a wildly popular and successful president, that he and his flying monkeys attacked her from the first second (remember all the nastiness from establishment Republicans at the time - who just happened to have been Romneybots)
It’s the Karl Rove wing of the GOP.
They don’t do things for America. They do things for themselves.
So where does Perry and all his money fit into this? He’s the one who has the potential for the funding needed to stop romney.
Exactly! It’s to shake voter confidence in Newt so they ‘don’t vote for someone who may drop out’.
I am very concerned about those who are saying Newt is just in this now to destroy Romney because he is so angry. that makes people halt if they think of donating money to his campaign.
I think that, if Newt can strike a deal, Perry would probably be willing to support Newt.
Unless Newt did something stupid, like alienate Perry or something.
A Newt/Santorum ticket would be a great strategic move right now.
You just reminded me-—didn’t Santorum diss Palin a while back? Something about staying home and taking care of her children?
If Gingrich does this, my respect for him will be strengthened.
Whatever he said was not a reflection of his relevant political ideology or his potential to be a good president.
Palin has spoken well of Santorum recently.
I noticed during the last debate that Perry and Newt were laughing it up and talking. They look to be on very good terms. Same with Newt and Santorum.
Sounds logical. Unless Perry’s donor’s, whoever they are, don’t want to continue being generous if he drops out. We shall see, i suppose.
Got a source for that?
I’m calling anti-Santorum “FUD” otherwise.
That’s good to know.
To a Catholic, who believes in strong family values, I don’t see that as being disrespectful.
According to natural law, it would be primarily the role of the mother to stay home and care for her children.
This is garbage. Other than Iowa, where Rev. Santorum spent the last year of his life, he polls in the absolute basement.
Newt is just puting the movie out today. Why would he quit now.
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