Interesting. There’s not a chance that the pundits at NR are actually going for Rick Santorum. Mitt Romney is still their guy, and has been for years.
The plan was that the various conservatives would split the vote, and that Romney would walk away with the electors. Now, why would they want Newt to drop out and maybe put Rick over the top?
I happen to like Rick better than Newt, because I think he is more reliable. But I don’t want to push Newt out of the race, not unless and until he’s ready to go. We’ve seen how this race can change suddenly as the voters suddenly shift to the other side of the boat. It’s dangerous to have only one conservative candidate left.
Still, I’m not sure what NR is thinking here. How would Newt dropping out help Romney? Do they still think he is the toughest guy to beat?
How would Newt dropping out help Romney? Do they still think he is the toughest guy to beat?
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Not necessarily the toughest guy to beat— but the most difficult to deal with. That is, I’m sure the Romney Camp believes that they can either destroy Rick or offer him something-— he’s politically young, pragmatic and approachable.
So, with Rick, one way or another they feel they can handle him or deal with him.
With Newt— that’s just not the case.
“It’s dangerous to have only one conservative candidate left.”
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I think you answered your own question w/the second quote above ...and VinL refined it w/his summation.
Regards,
-Geoff
It’s also just remotely possible that NR has recognized that their to-this-point-boy is in deep doo do and that Santorum is more electable and the most Reaganesque because he can bring together factions of the party and get the Reagan Democrats (which is why the polls out of Michigan are so interseting).
Perhaps they are having a real change of mind at NR?? It’s possible.
Blindly to assume that because they’ve been in the tank for Romney they will always be in the tank for him all the way down the drain
might
just
be
wrong.
FR folks need to see the handwriting on the wall. Newt is finished. Newties can still be spoilers to ensure that we get Romney. What we can’t get anymore is Newt. Newt is this cycle’s Huckleberry now.
Or they can close ranks against Romney. Which will it be?