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.”
Despite the stated purpose of this board, it sure is disheartening to see all these sneering attacks by certain posters against Christian Conservatives in general, and Rick Santorum's faith and moral values in particular. Either these posters are atheists or they are hypocrites. No two ways about it.
Very true, however there are unique circumstances here. One, he did a bad job. Two, "lied his way into office and may not even be eligible" puts a helluva asterisk next to that incumbent "I".
Three, even Jimmy Carter had a better claim to a return to office than Obozo does. And that's being pretty fair on the job-performance front, comparing apples to apples.
Well, there is two ways about it, and the other way is that there is no more severe critic than a disappointed idealist. Such people are not cynics, which is what atheists and hypocrites tend to become.
Personally, I'm dismayed by the attacks on Santorum, too, and I'd prefer him over Newt -- certainly over the tedious RiNO Romney -- and either him or Newt over the atrocious Obozo; but still we have to accept that politics ain't beanbag and that people will criticize.
In the best of all worlds, we get a convention fight, twelve or fifteen ballots, and finally a stampede for Sarah, who I personally think is the secret love-child of Teddy Roosevelt out of Annie Oakley. But that's just me.
RE: Three, even Jimmy Carter had a better claim to a return to office than Obozo does.
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We also should remember. At this point in time in 1980, Ronald Reagan was behind in the polls by double digits !! I believe when they took the poll at the end of February then, it was 58 to 40 in favor of Carter.
Even Gerald Ford and Papa Bush fared better than Ronald Reagan then.
Of course Romney would be a disaster, but Santorum would be an even bigger one. They’re both parody candidates that epitomize the worst elements of the GOP.
True, but none of 2012's candidates are even close to Reagan's stature. And, last I checked, 52 Americans weren't being held hostage by a hostile government, chipping away at the incumbent's approve numbers.
“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.”
I thought Superpac were not allowed to meet with the Candidate.
“HAVE NEWT SUPPORTERS TRASH RICK”
On the calls I have made for Newt. We are not allowed to Trash Mittens or Santorum.
He told me that he would not vote for Romney, but would vote, Newt, Obama or Santorum. I asked him HOW could you be so spread out in who you would vote for and why not Paul and why in the world obama? He said he knows what obama is about and can be controlled, (he trust the system much more than I do) and that he thinks romney could be worse than obama because of his stealth past, and purposeful hiding of who he really is. I said I know he is not a conservative, but worse than obama? He was convinced that romney is up to more than meets the eye.
He said romney is protraying himself as something he is not and he's not talking just politics??? He said if you wanted to defend capitalism, romney should be the last person you should pick. He investigated it completely, and said that there is things there he will have to answer for. He said he did not know why the republican leadership criticized the other candidates for bringing it up, as well as other similar financial dealings. He said obama will be able to lay out his reasons very simply for the people to understand and that he cannot beat obama. He thought the the RNC was up to something and that obama will not have a problem questioning capitalism; in fact, romney makes the case why capitalist are so bad. Again he said the worse person you could nominate is romney if you are defending capitalism.
He really made sense. Why would the RNC push a nominee with corrupt dealings to represent all capitalist? It would be easy for the left to point out the corruption and say ALL capitalist are like that. Maybe the RNC is giving up. I know he showed me enough that he is right, and I can't wait until the next time we get together to talk. He's an interesting man.
Oh, please... granted Santorum hasn't been exactly orthodox in his conservatism, but likening Santorum backers to O-bots is quite a stretch.
That is good. Newt is my second choice and I dont want to see Rick harm Newt, only romney.
The GOP, the media on the right, and unnamed powerful people are deciding who we get. These religious leaders are just part of Santorums backers; just like each of the candidates have.
Why do you only want to talk about condoms and abortions?
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You need to ask the Rev. Father Rick Santorum that; he’s the one who started it. He needs to get off that stuff and talk about issue he can do something about like the Economy and Iran. He’s become the Pat Robertson of the 21st Century.
Should your opinion matter more than anyone Else’s? Newt is my second choice after Rick. So I should do what YOU think and not vote what I believe is right? You are talking like romney supporters, the gop.....No one knows the future, no even you. I hold my right to vote sacredly. I want the future to be better for my kids.
Excellent.
I believe that most Americans will prefer someone who prays to a godless communist. Santorum can and will beat Obama. Remember, some of the most liberal voters of various ethnicities are nevertheless religious.
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