Santorum to Newsmax: I'd Consider Gingrich for VP (Looking for core conservative as running mate)

NewsMax ^ | Thursday, 08 Mar 2012 06:28 PM | Martin Gould and Ashley Martella

[SeekAndFind]

Saying he'd look for a "strong and principled conservative" as a running mate should he win the Republican presidential nomination, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum tells Newsmax that he certainly would consider rival Newt Gingrich for that vital role.

When asked if he would consider the former House Speaker as number two on his ticket, Santorum said Gingrich had been "tested" by the bruising GOP race and that makes him an attractive vice presidential candidate.

Santorum tells Newsmax that his choice would be a core conservative who is “willing to stand up and fight for the things that I believe in.”

“My principal and only criterion for vice president is to make sure that I have someone that I have confidence that if something should happen to me that they could carry on and do what I promised the people of America I would try to do,” he said.

Gingrich would seem to fit the bill more than any of the other candidates. He and Santorum have been battling for the same voters on the right of the party as they try to defeat front-runner Mitt Romney.

Santorum said the GOP only has to look to history to see that conservative candidates do better in general elections that do moderates.

“If we have another moderate Republican we are going to end up with the same situation we had four years ago,” he said, referring to John McCain’s loss to Barack Obama. “We’ll have the same situation we had with Bob Dole and the same situation we had with Gerry Ford.

“You go back. If we nominate conservatives we win. If we nominate moderates we lose. We can’t afford to lose this one.”

[napscoordinator]

Outstanding! What a great person. Considering an opponent is a humble and incredibly gracious decision. How people cannot see this guy is not 100 percent the right person for America is baffling. God Bless the entire Santorum family. Nobody is better. Newt is close but just quite to Santorum’s caliber.

[rwilson99]

Please...

As a Newt voter in Florida... this team wins.

Santorum is more likable.

Newt can still follow Obama around and debate him every day.

[ScottinVA]

Allen West would be more to my liking, but Newt would be a great choice.

[Jonty30]

Although, I prefer Gingrich as POTUS, I could accept him as VP. One of the responsibilities of VP is to be the bulldog for the president, so it’s a role that would fit Newt like a glove.

[cripplecreek]

I personally dislike Gingrich but think he’s an ideal choice for VP. He has the personality strength to get his policy ideas included in a Santorum administration.

Also they would make the perfect good cop/bad cop team. Santorum could explain policy with a smile while Newt applies the whip in congress.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

This has potential.

Those two either need to strike a deal, whereby one convincingly throws their support 100% to the other in exchange for the VP (or some other desired) spot.

For example, Santorum endorses Newt, in exchange for the position of US Trade Representative... (hint hint)

Or both need to run till the very last day.

And trust to a brokered convention.

(unconventional, that)

[Proud2BeRight]

I don't care which is POTUS and which is VP. Agree, flip a coin or draw straws. Just make it happen now and prevent the flip-flopping Massachusetts liberal and the establishment RINO GOP from losing another one.

[fabian]

Well, they had better team up quickly somehow and I don’t really care how is on the top because we do not want Romney to get the nod!

[txhurl]

Now we’re talking. Combine Newt’s team with Santorum, we WIN.

Thank you, Rick, now make it happen, don’t just reflect on it.

[taildragger]

Other way around skippy, you aren’t seasoned enough...

[SeekAndFind]

First, What we need is for the Santorum vs Gingrich bickering to STOP at FR.

[Mr. K]

I would be happy with Santorum/Gingrich but I would MUCH RATHER HAVE Gingrich/Santorum for 16 year run of conservatism

ROMNEY IS OBAMA-LITE

(and who was that weepy idiot on FoxNews who cried and asked Romney to promise to “take care of his son”)

[Antoninus]

Santorum/Gingrich is a winner.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Other way around skippy, you aren’t seasoned enough...

16 years in the halls of Washington isn’t seasoned enough?

[Antoninus]

First, What we need is for the Santorum vs Gingrich bickering to STOP at FR.

Agreed. See tagline.

Continued bickering only makes Romney the winner.

[Mr. K]

And I would PAY MONEY to see Gingrich debate Odumbass

[Toespi]

This is so incredibly transparent. Gingrich is going in to his best potential states and Santorum knows it. Earlier this week Ricky was urging him to drop out, now he “suggesting” him as a running mate. What an opportunist and that is what his entire political career has been about.

[trisham]

LOLOLOLOL!

[pgkdan]

16 years in the halls of Washington isn’t seasoned enough?

See how it works? They say not seasoned...you say 16 years in Congress...they say DC insider.

Santorum is our best chance to beat obama. I would take a Santorum/Gingrich ticket only to stop the conservative infighting so we can train our guns (metaphorically) on Romney abd then obama. We need to come together on this quickly and quit letting the media, the democrats and the romney slime machine keep us at each others throats!