Posted on 03/18/2012 12:18:16 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
After today’s “This Week” roundtable, I spoke more with former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour about his views on the Republican presidential race, whether he regrets not getting into the contest, and his defense of his controversial pardons before leaving office in January.
Barbour told me that he voted for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in last week’s Mississippi primary, saying, “out of friendship, I voted for Newt.”
“I didn’t endorse anybody [before the primary],” Barbour told me. “I didn’t want to try to influence anybody’s vote, so beforehand I didn’t say who I voted for. But Newt and I have been friends a long, long time.”
....The former Republican National Committee chairman said he had no regrets about not entering the GOP race himself, saying he “never had the fire in the belly” to run for president.
“I made a very conscious decision after months and months of serious deliberation,” Barbour said. “I’ve been around long enough, been in enough campaigns: You either gotta be all in or not in at all.”
If he had run, Barbour said he would have worked to keep more of the focus on President Obama’s record on the economy and deficits.
“Every time that we spend a minute not talking about Obama’s policies and the failed results of those policies, then we’re not taking advantage of our best ground,” Barbour said...........
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
If Newt bows out, Romney will probably get 40% of his support, if not more.
In a poll in NC, it showed that without Newt, the support is split about 56% Santorum, 44% Romney.
Okay. the entire thing has been rigged just like in 20008. The whole presidential race has been nothing but a dog and pony show to keep our minds off what has really been going on being our backs. May God be with us all.
WTH?
Thanks for the help Hayle.
Dick Cheney was my first choice for President in 1988, he was mentioned frequently early but did not run. I voted for my second choice in the Tennessee primary, Jack Kemp. I voted absentee two weeks before the primary and Kemp had been eliminated before the Tennessee primary date.
Well, Haley did, unpopularly, pardon multiple criminals from jail just before he left office, so maybe that's why he kept his fat yap shut.
I think you`re probably right.
Knock it off!
Strategically, Santorum killed the only shot at taking Romney down one-on-one by pushing ahead through FL and beyond.
Mathematically it's nearly impossible for Romney to be outright beaten and it will be very difficult to stop him from clinching the nomination. However, the only strategy available to do it requires all the non-Romney's to pull voters and delegates from Romney. If any one exits now, Romney will take a substantial portion of delegates that would've stayed in the non-Romney camp.
Santorum's the establishment tool, happy to "take one for the team" throughout his senate career all while betraying his so-called "conservative" values.
Maybe they’re afraid. This is why Newt needs us “WITH” him, not “FOR” him. It’s entirely the right attitude to have. No president can “do it alone” and it’s clear high profile people who like Newt enough to vote or him have been shy.
“Former Georgia Governor and United States Senator Zell Miller, is national co-chairman of the Newt 2012 campaign.”
I did not know that. I am glad it is so although I remember all the times I rolled my eyes in disgust back in the days when he was Ole Zig Zag Zell.
That may cost Santorum a few votes
I didn’t even know that Haley knows Two-State Newt, and I thought Haley was for Romney all along. I bet he is now for Romney when it counts.
This is the problem with Santos supporters thy are illiterate on the history of the GOP. Who the hell do you think orchestrated the takeover on congress in the 90s and who was the RNC chairman that delivered it??
If they wanted Newt to win, then they would have said something. Like most politicians, and common folk— they are more concerned about what others may say, rather than standing for the right thing.
Doing the “right thing” is pretty easy. It just usually sucks.
Zell is one of the people I would most dearly love to hear speak at a brokered convention. I personally know of more than one lifelong Democrat who voted Republican for the first time in their lives after hearing Zell speak at the 2004 convention.
Explain how you know that Santorum is the Establishment’s tool. I am more afraid of Jeb Bush than I am of Rick santorum. And if e there is a brokered convention, Bush could be a major threat. I really am not a strong fan of anyone still running.
Meanwhile back at the White House..........
Caught John McCain sliming Newt by referring to Adelson’s $20million dirty money.
He is a despicable, envious old fool who has done more damage to the conservative cause while aiding and abetting the socialist Dem agenda.
Makes me SICK that these politicians come out AFTER the fact to lend their support. Thanks a heap.
Same goes for Palin.
I think, lately, they all stink.
I pray Newt stays put, right where he is.
Sarah Palin pointedly refused to endorse Gingrich.
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