Uh, Santorum endorsed romney while huckabee was still in the race...
As for “taking one for the team”, that’s what Newt essentially said when he stated he would have “reluctantly voted for TARP”.
reluctantly - after Geitner and many others made the case to him and other republicans that a financial meltdown, global in proportions, would result without it.
FACTS, REALITY. Try 'em you like 'em. Or maybe not.
You mean, Huckabee, the huge fiscal lib, who made a zillion dubious pardons and who was tag teaming with McCain against Romney... That's how nearly all freepers at the time characterized the huckster. He was, if anything, less liked than McCain. He certainly wasn't considered a viable alternative.
Many don't want to admit it, but when Santorum endorsed, a few days before Mitt quit, polls of Freepers showed Mitt to be the top choice here. That certainly wasn't true while Duncan and Fred were still pretending to run, which in hindsight was really all they were doing. Mitt since saw that this time there would be a crowd on the right, but clear sailing on the left, so he made up with the establishment and turned off many of his one time supporters. Also, in hindsight, Mitt faked being conservative then better than he fakes whatever he's pretending to be now. At least then he could pretend consistently.
FACTS, REALITY. Try 'em you like 'em. Or maybe not.