Posted on 03/11/2012 7:49:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A group of conservative leaders pledged to raise a combined $1.78 million for Rick Santorum's campaign and SuperPAC after meeting privately in Texas this weekend with the Republican presidential hopeful, POLITICO has learned.
More than 200 conservatives from all over the country convened at the Houston Omni for a Friday fundraising reception for Santorum's campaign. They then met to plot strategy with the former senator Saturday morning, discussing how to overcome Mitt Romney's growing advantage in the GOP primary and fend off Newt Gingrich.
"The message was, 'we're all in,'" said South Dakota businessman and conservative organizer Bob Fischer, one of the event’s co-hosts.
Fischer explained that the $1.78 million represents money that, over the course of the weekend, individuals gave and pledged to raise for the campaign and SuperPAC. "It could be significantly more," he said. He declined to share the names of the donors writing large checks to the SuperPACs.
Santorum’s campaign has been badly outspent by Romney throughout the primary season and could use such an injection of cash. Such pledges are not always followed through on, but in the contribution limit-free, SuperPAC era it’s easier to raise money with a handful of deep-pocketed givers.
Many of those at the meeting were at the January gathering of conservatives at a Texas ranch where there was a vote taken to rally around Santorum as the chief conservative alternative to Romney.
Co-hosts in Houston included Fischer, Rebecca Hagelin, Richard Viguerie and Tim Lefever.
Also present were conservative leaders Tony Perkins and James Dobson.
“It was not a discussion of who to support, it was a consolidation of support,” said Perkins, differentiating the meeting with the January session. “There was a big push to raise funds. There was a sense of, ‘Now is the time to step up.’”
Perkins said Santorum’s comments Friday night at the closed-press reception were little different than what the candidate has been saying publicly.
Paraphrasing, Perkins said Santorum made clear he was in the race for the long haul and said, ‘We have a chance now and I need your help.’
Fischer dismissed Romney's lead in the delegate hunt and, suggesting a potential convention floor fight, said it was noted at the meeting that in some states delegates are only pledged on the first round of balloting in Tampa.
He indicated that Santorum was ready to go to the convention "if it's needed" and argued that the campaign was now "a two-man race."
But Gingrich’s continued presence in the race looms large for Santorum, especially ahead of Tuesday’s primaries in Mississippi and Alabama, where polls show the three candidates all drawing a significant share of the vote
“If they were to converge together you would have a majority,” said Perkins, whose Family Research Council has not endorsed in the race.
Saying it was Gingrich’s decision on whether to stay in the race, Perkins deemed the former speaker as “the most influential guy in American politics right now – he could be a kingmaker.”
Why?
Crony politics, backroom deals and promises.
Gingrich will let Chuck Norris and Rick Perry handle them:)
God Bless these patriotic conservative folks. They also want a moral, principled man of character as President. This is the most wonderful news on a Sunday evening. Good Luck President Santorum. I trust 200 Christian conservative leaders completely. They have studied this primary as a group and definitely prayed about this decision.
This campaign sure has found some legs.
Yes, WHY?
Santorum is going to get creamed by Obama. All Obama has to do is play clips form the Satan sermon, add a few lies, and point out his weak resume and its a done deal — four more years of the Bamster.
RE: Why?
Because they feel that taken everything into consideration, Santorum’s policies are closest to their beliefs I would surmise.
DELEGATE COUNT THUS FAR:
Total Number of delegates: 2286
Unallocated delegates: 1459
Number of delegates needed to win: 1144
Romney 444 (700 needed)
Santorum 202 (942 needed)
Paul 66 (1078 needed)
Gingrich 115 (1029 needed)
"Evangelical"? Nope, not there.
RE: All Obama has to do is play clips form the Satan sermon, add a few lies, and point out his weak resume
______________
Not sure if most people are bothered by the reference to Satan at all. That will only play well mostly with his liberal base.
Weak resume? Obama was Senator for only 2 years ( mostly voting present ). Santorum was Senator 12 years and Congressman 4 years. Who has the better resume ?
If Romney is nominated, blame Newt.
Santorum 2012
Who blinks first, Gingrich or Santorum? If Romney is to be beat, those two have to doubleteam him, they have to work together.
The people who fall for these kind of dishonest attacks were already going to vote for Obama. Whoever runs against Obama will be continually attacked and lied about.
Santorum is the only one who has endured the most vicious and dishonest attacks the MSM can dish out and is not only still going strong he has actually gotten stronger.
If you are too cowardly to back someone who will be unfairly attacked and lied about by the Obama Administration and the MSM then back whoever you want.
Me, I'll take someone who stands up to the immorality that has infiltrated our country. I'll take Rick Santorum.
But...but Santorum was never a Community Organizer.
“Weak resume? “
OK, so you think that Santorum has a strong resume.
I would judge it differently.
Obama is an incumbent president which historically is VERY hard to unseat.
12 years in the Senate Santorum accomplished almost nothing except stop partial birth abortion. This is good, but he didn’t reduce the size of government, didn’t reform welfare or cut taxes and often voted for pro union positions.
Santorum is asking to run one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world and has NO management experience.
Then he lost by 17 points IN HIS OWN STATE the last time he ran. He can’t even convince people who know him best to support him.
Sorry, but a really weak resume.
Now I will support him if need be, but doubt if he could win.
Obama may be able to tease Santorum into making foolish statements, but Romney is going to be the nominee, says its mathematically all over.
Not necessarily.
After Tuesday, we may be in a position where Newt-torum has more delegates than Romney.
Getting 1144 delegates between Newt and Rick, and then forcing an alliance at the Convention, is our best hope. it is no longer a far-fetched idea, either.
LOL! love it:) Perry’s been working along with Chuck Norris for Newt in Texas. The picture is great..thanks
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