I’m not worried about the convention. I’m worried about how voters are going to feel after the convention if Romney takes it (which unfortunately I think he will). Then, will the Santorum and Gingrich backers put party before principle and back Romney? To go by the sentiments on this board, not likely. What then?
If Romney gets the nomination, anyone who still says “not Romney” is giving a bye to one of Zer0’s voters. If somehow either Santorum or Gingrich carries the day, do you really think either of them can honestly pull the ever-fickle independents? Just how many Gingrich backers will willingly stand behind Santorum if he gets the nomination?
In a recent thread, someone was tallying the delegates, and mentioned that the “not-Romney” percentage outweighed Romney’s delegates. But, what we don’t really know is are those really not-Romney, or are they pro-Gingrich, pro-Santorum, and pro-Paul?
Pennsylvania Republican Delegate Process... * The at-large delegates, chosen by the state's Republican State Committee, will go to the Republican National Convention officially "Unpledged". [Rule 8.3]
In addition, 3 party leaders, the National Committeeman, the National Committeewoman, and the chairman of the Pennsylvania's Republican Party, will attend the convention as unpledged delegates by virtue of their position. [end excerpt]
Newt Gingrich recently said:
..."“What crashed in 2006 is trying to govern as though we are Democrats,” he told the crowd. “We cannot be a normal party. If we run a normal campaign trying to govern within the framework of the current system, we have no future because people would rather have Democrats doing it -- they at least enjoy it. We are miserable trying to govern within their system. We are in the business of changing Washington, not being accepted by it. It’s a fundamentally different model.”....
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We go to the convention. We fight these entrenched party leaders like there is no tomorrow.
One thing is certain, if we don't fight like hell now against the GOP-e pick they are not going to give conservatives another chance. It's time to rally the spirit of 2010 and march on Tampa!
Then, will the Santorum and Gingrich backers put party before principle and back Romney?
Many won’t. If Mutt refuses to tack right to win the nomination he’ll surely move left for the general election. I’ll put my efforts toward a more conservative Congress to work against Obama in his second term.