“I still want Newt to stay in to the convention.”
Very dangerous. Realize that the majority of delegates remaining are in “winner take all” states, and that further splitting of the conservative base can only help Romney seal the deal.
I wanted Newt to garner more support and be the guy to go on, but we simply can’t have Romney. If we do, then we’re looking at Obama winning in November.
Newt is the only one that adequately expresses what I want in a candidate. And Newt is the one driving the debate with Obama with regards to energy issues. If Newt had dropped out, would that be as big an issue? Santorum has started to pick that up now, but that is because he is a follower, not a leader.
The timeline of Santorum’s surge is as follows (as I see it): Newt is leading in Iowa. Romney buries Newt in negative ads. As a result, Santorum wins in Iowa. Newt comes back and wins S Carolina, Romney buries Newt in negative ads is Florida. Obama manufactures the contraceptive issue which helps Santorum with evangelicals and Santorum fills in the anti-Romney void created by Newt losing Florida. Santorum gets momentum by winning some caucus states. And here we are. I just don’t like being manipulated. Manipulated by establishment Republicans, maniplulated by the Romney sleaze machine, manipulated by Obama’s fake contraception issue, which helped Santorum. I guess I’m a bitter clinger. Go Newt!
All of the liberal talking heads are telling us that Newt should get out. That tells me that Newt should stay in. Santorum supporters, please keep in mind that if Newt were to get out all the talking heads would immediately start calling for Santorum to get out.