Gingrich, vowing 'national' campaign, jabs at Santorum (Incoming!)

Fox News ^ | 2-09-12 | Rosen

[VinL]

ledging to run a "national campaign" and denying he faces a do-or-die "Alamo" moment in Texas -- whose April 3 primary will award 155 delegates -- Newt Gingrich accused newly minted frontrunner Rick Santorum of being a "Big Labor Republican" who has attacked the Tea Party and amassed a voting record conservatives will find "dubious."

In an impromptu interview at the Fox News Washington bureau, the former House speaker claimed Santorum's clean sweep of this week's nominating contests in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri shows that the Republican presidential primary is a "wide open race" he can still win. Asked if Santorum's ascendancy deprives Gingrich's own candidacy of oxygen, Gingrich maintained that he appeals to a wider and deeper constituency in the GOP electorate.

"Among Tea Party members, I have a much stronger following than Rick does. And they understand that it's principled and that I am supportive of the Tea Parties; I am not attacking them, as he did," Gingrich said.

His campaign cited a 2011 video, now circulating online, in which Santorum can be heard telling an audience in Harrisburg he has "real concerns" about efforts by the Tea Party to refashion conservatism, and added that he planned to "vocally and publicly oppose it."

But Gingrich didn't stop there. While calling Santorum a friend,

[VinL]

I support Newt, have nothing against Rick.

Just my view- Rick might be over-reaching going after Romney man-on-man in Mich-- he can't overcome that Romney, GOP-E attack machine.

I wish Newt and Rick would unite against Romney- but doesn't look like that's going to happen.

Oh well, start the clock.

[arrdon]

I about as full of Newt as I am his daddy, Boortz.

[FreedomProtector]

Rick beats Romney in the Heartland/Midwest.
Newt beats Romney in the South.
Romney wins nothing but the wacko northeast.

works for me...as long as Slick Mitt is gone...

[sodpoodle]

ping

[C210N]

I’m happy with Newt and Rick in there, slogging thru the proportional states. If either one has to drop out, that
guys’ voters and delegates have a place to go. Where I have trouble, though, is in the winner-take-all venues... I hope that both campaigns, at least on their own, take it upon themselves to strategize how to keep Romeny from getting those states that he would otherwise not get, presumably by knowing who/when to quit. A personal preference for Newt here, but either works. The ONLY path to 25% Romeny, is for both Newt and Rick to be below 25%.

[nikos1121]

Santorum is a good and decent man, but I don’t think anyone seriously thinks he can run this country with the problems we have.

None of the candidates are perfect, but let’s face it, Newt has been there, and can get things done. He also has the most perfect vision of where our has been and what it can become. Anyone over the age of 50 should see that.

When Santorum and others attack the man’s ideas, calling him a dreamer, they really don’t understand that all Americans are dreamers or at least our ancestors were.

I’ve been for Newt now for 4 months. No remorse. This should be a two man race either Romney and Newt or Newt and Santorum, but the whole debate is getting dilute.

Santorum obviously will say anything to appeal to the people he talking to on any given day. He’s got no substantial record as being anything other than a senator who got beat badly in a liberal state.

[Paleo Conservative]

Pledging to run a "national campaign" and denying he faces a do-or-die "Alamo" moment in Texas -- whose April 3 primary will award 155 delegates --

Excuse me, but the TX primary won't be in April.

[Paleo Conservative]

Newt beats Romney in the South.

There's just 1 southern primary so far. Newt won, primarly because he was the anti-Romney. It's quite possible Santorum could win several southern states on Super Tuesday now that Santorum has won 4 states. Newt has an awful lot of baggage.

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

Santorum is a good and decent man, but I don’t think anyone seriously thinks he can run this country with the problems we have.

Exactly.. Not every good and decent conservative has what it takes to be POTUS. Rick lacks confidence and authority. Newt has it all.

[Parley Baer]

Rick has been slamming Newt all along. Glad to see Newt doing some payback. I just wish both of them would concentrate on Mitt but Rick has not been able to help himself. GO NEWT GO!

[makomako]

Noot can’t stand someone else getting attention. His massive ego craves the spotlight. Go Rick Go!

[GOPyouth]

There's just 1 southern primary so far. Newt won...

We did manage to lose Florida.

[bushinohio]

Go Santorum! In my humble opinion, the best chance we have at defeating Obama.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I say he will kick the political bucket as well. He's Gov of Assachussets which = mega liberal and/or Democrat in a lot of minds and people have had it with that type. The Muslim Marxist has guaranteed it.

Plus as pathetic as it seems, that hair dye job, that Mr. Fantastic 4 look of RINOmney, makes him come across as a fraud. May seem inconsequential, but people (like my mother) base their whole voting decisions on stuff like that.

She voted for Clinton and Obama solely on their looks despite my best efforts to convince her otherwise. I told her if she votes for Obama again I will disown her as her son. So now she says she likes Rick. Not because he's the most conservative, but because "he looks the best and seems nice".

And I don't care what anyone tells me, people like my mother are what determine elections. Only a small percentage follow politics intently. If you don't believe me, ask people on the street who is Obamas VP. Do that Jay Leno thing: "What country did we win independence from?" France? Noooo....Russia? Noooo..Those are the answers you get. The majority of people are 'tardbags when it comes to elections. They base their decisions like they make decisions over food.

"Ted Kennedy! I love you man!"

[jbwbubba]

“Romney wins nothing but the wacko northeast.”
\

Florida and NEvada are in the Northeast now??

[nikos1121]

FR such as yourself have sustained me over the past two weeks. I’ve turned off the TV, radio, NRO...(long ago the idiot thinking Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin) and especially Rush. I get all my news from FR.

The many, I would think 60% of us here, are solidly behind Newt. The other 20% are wishy washy, then you have 20% who are anti Newt and like Santorum or who actually think Santorum is the real deal.

Sorry Folks, he’s not. He the generic republican who has not been vetted but will be soon, and friends you are going to be very very disappointment at the package this guy is selling.

I’m not even sure if he’s VP timber.

I can’t tell you what it is, perhaps you can. There is something about the guy that is plastic. He’s off, kinda like when you’ve been talking to someone who excessively, fanatically pious and you know he’s got a rip up there in his brain.

I’m not saying he’s stupid, I’m saying the guy is winging it. He’s getting better over time, but compare him Newt. Newt has thought these issues thoroughly. He taught classes, he spoken to every contingency from poor latinos to poor blacks.

He can relate and communicate with all of them.

Thank you, for hanging in there. Each posting that tells me Newt is not leaving the race makes me feel better.

[nikos1121]

Newt needs to make a quick point about Santorum and then pivot against Obama. Stay positive on message.

[Paleo Conservative]

Florida isn’t very southern culturally.

[nikos1121]

Really? Anyone who thinks Santorum is the best possible candidate for our times, is probably just as naive as he is.

This guy is a light weight. The vast majority see that here.

I predict also that, something will surface soon about him.

[Ingtar]

Florida, this time of year, may as well be. If they had not moved the primary up, the snow birds would have been gone and it would have helped. If Newt had not counted on the lift he got in South Carolina from everyone saying, “Vote Newt or Romney wins” to carry him to a win in Florida, it might have been different as well. He could not overcome the money being spent. In the general, even Romney is likely to be at a spending disadvantage (in the abysmal case that Robama wins.)