I actually got an “inside tip” on the Perry drop-out/non-drop-out thing.
Apparently many of the donors who put big bucks into his campaign were outraged when he indicated he would drop-out after Iowa, essentially stating that they didn’t donate all that money to have him drop out before a single Southern Primary.
So he kinda got nudged back into the race, it appears.
Santorum is just following the Huckabee model right now, with considerably weaker results and less success. There has to be some part of him that realizes by now he is not going to be the GOP nominee. His campaign has even backed-off of the idea of winning SC, and is now talking about a “strong finish” instead. Considering SC is winner-take-all, well, I find that mentality very frustrating.
You mean he’s following the Thompson plan..
McLame 33%
Huck 30%
Fred 15% (Who was playing SPOILER for anyone who challenged McLame)
None of the primaries prior to April 1 are winner-take-all, including SC. Winner-take-all is not allowed this year until April 1.
That is why all of the candidates got a trickle of delegates from IA and NH.
I watched the CSPAN footage linked here on a FR thread of Newt and Santorum's talks at the panel discussion in South Carolina. I really liked nearly everything Santorum had to say and came away thinking we could do a lot worse ... but also had to acknowledge that his body language, waiting in his seat to go up to the podium while the guy was announcing him and talking about his qualifications -- Santorum was mopping his brow, squeezing his wife's hand as if seeking reassurance --- looking for all the world like a high school kid about to go into the ring in a wrestling match against someone who scared the hell out of him.
Gingrich is the better choice. I hope everyone watches the CSPAN clip of BOTH of them, in its entirety. The contrast is stark.
Apparently many of the donors who put big bucks into his campaign were outraged when he indicated he would drop-out after Iowa, essentially stating that they didn’t donate all that money to have him drop out before a single Southern Primary.
If that's so, then it truly is gut check time for Rick Perry. What he does now, will determine what he's really made of, and if he's got the character and integrity to do what's right for the country, despite pressure from his big money donors.
You've got to wonder what his major donors are thinking. Do they give a damn about the probable outcome here? Don't they realize that their candidate isn't capable of pulling off a miracle, and that the 5% of votes he's going to get, could likely be the critical margin of victory in South Carolina?