Posted on 01/25/2012 4:32:16 PM PST by TitansAFC
Rick Santorum has said he will be in the race for the long haul, and I have no reason to doubt his sincerity.
But what message does it send his supporters in Florida that he’s not even hanging around for election night?
Failing to show early signs of momentum in the Sunshine State, presidential hopeful Rick Santorum on Wednesday signaled he may be cutting out of Florida before the state’s Jan. 31 primary.
Speaking to reporters here, the former Pennsylvania senator said was unsure if he would be in Florida the night of the primary, committing only to campaigning in the state over the next two days. On Saturday, he’ll head home to Virginia for fundraisers and to prepare his tax records which he plans to soon make public.
His voters strongly prefer Newt over Romney according to the latest PPP poll:
If Rick Santorum drops out between now and next Tuesday, Gingrich will be the beneficiary. His voters prefer Gingrich over Romney 50-23, and in a field where he’s no longer a candidate Newt’s lead expands to 43-36.
Will an unofficial drop out, at least in Florida, be the differerence? I don’t see how he revives his campaign unless he can be competitive in one of the prize states.
But he can do damage at the debate Thursday night, and leave with a bang.
Of interest ping.
Wonder if we’ll see indications of a Santorum exit in tomorrow night’s debate... If he doesn’t go after Newt, will it be a signal?
He has to get home to get his taxes, b/c ya know what he said: “I do m’own taxes, and they’re on my computer at home, and nobody’s home to get ‘em...” What a goofball.
Time to do the right thing Rick.
Pray for America
I hope that he can say some things that will help him to make the race about beating Obama and that he can trun his ideas about culture toward how Obama is making life worse not about what he would do. it is better to turn the ideas on the people and make Obama look bad rather than telling your private/public thoughts.
Could someone please tell me what Santorum thinks his path to the nomination is? Is he just waiting around to be the next “not-Romney?
Yeah. Because on one in his campaign has a laptop to retrieve the taxes. What a dork.
The question is, if he doesn’t go after Romney, will that be “the” signal? I just have this uneasy feeling that should he pull out he will throw his support to Romney. He was that “Establishment Republican” at one time, after all.
Time for him to pack it in. Unfortunately I think he will endorse the liberal.
I think he's done anyway and have said so from the start, but if he wants to hang around and debate, and avoid going back to a real job, he should move on to whatever state he thinks he may have a real chance of winning at least something.
He’ll go after Gingrich no matter what. He’s never gone after Romney, so his failure to do that wouldn’t mean much of anything. I think he’ll probably drop out and will endorse Romney.
Rick is a good man, but you can’t lose your last re-election campaign by a massive 18 point landslide and expect to then roll as a presidential candidate and have an actual shot to win. Lets face it, the only reason Santorum is still even in the race is because he was the only anti-Romney who didn’t get ripped to shreds - and that is only because no one ever thought it was worth spending much money/time criticizing him because everyone knows he won’t be the nominee.
Santorum needs to go back home and win something to remove the festering stink of his last crushing defeat. He could use that as a springboard to try another presidential run in the future.
The only person in the race that can actually stop Romney is Newt. Gingrich may not be perfect, but he CAN actually win the nomination and at least has a shot to win a general election. In short, Newt is the most conservative candidate that CAN win. Santorum can’t and won’t win the nomination this cycle.
Florida is an expensive state for Presidential campaigns, both in travel time and expenses and media buy costs. It’s tough to be competitive for all but the best financed campaigns in Florida. Perhaps Rick’s budget is straining under the burden. I wish him well, but maybe the cruel reality of a national campaign is grinding him down.
If Rick does the right thing - drops out and endorses Newt - then I won’t hold his former conduct against him. He, like Rick Perry, will have done what’s best for the conservative movement. How could I hate someone who firms up Newt’s lead?
On the other hand, if Rick refuses to exit gracefully, he’ll lose anyway and be remembered as a perpetual loser who just couldn’t take a hint. Newt is the official anti-Romney. Ron Paul at least has the Paulies to keep him going; I don’t think I’ve ever met a single Rickie.
I think Newt will pick up at least a few points from some disappointed Florida Santorum voters even if he’s not officially withdrawing, but just leaving town early.
It will be interesting to see if Rick goes after either Romney or Gingrich tomorrow. It would signal which way the wind is blowing if he withdraws and endorses.
Probably been too hot for the fey little sweater thingie.
There’s still time for Rick to have a future. But not if he gets his clock cleaned down here.
Go home Rick. Find something to else to do. While there’s still time.
He has 7 children including a special needs infant/toddler. He can't possibly be dragging them all across the campaign trail even though his wife is supposed to be home schooling.
Doesn't he trust her with computer access or access to their taxes or are they married filing separately?
If he's truly opposed to Romney, he should hang it up because a Romney win in FL will get him back on the inevitability track.
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