Posted on 03/19/2012 10:39:11 PM PDT by VinL
With former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich low in the polls and splitting the conservative vote with former Sen. Rick Santorum, commentators and pundits have suggested that Gingrich should drop out of the GOP race. Political analyst Scott Rasmussen told The Daily Caller that a dispassionate reading of the tea leaves suggests they’re right.
“I think if [Gingrich] dropped out, it would be good for the party and it would be good for Santorum and Romney,” Rasmussen said. “It is much easier and much healthier for the Republican party if you have Santorum and Romney going head-to-head and Ron Paul throwing in a different perspective, than it is to have Gingrich and Santorum fighting to appeal to the same group of voters.”
Rasmussen noted that Gingrich is prolonging the GOP nomination by remaining in the contest, as he has insisted he would.
“The race to get 50 percent is a lot harder if four people are splitting them up,” Rasmussen said.
Gingrich lags behind Santorum and former Gov. Romney with 136 delegates and 14 percent in the polls, stretching his two primary victories in South Carolina and Georgia as far as they will go.
Gingrich’s campaign spokesperson gave no sign of throwing in the towel.
“Santorum and Romney are not bold enough to challenge the Democrat machine,” R.C. Hammond said, dismissing Rasmussen’s comments. “Newt is and he will.” (RELATED: Full coverage of the Gingrich campaign)
While the former speaker may possess that boldness, RealClearPolitics senior elections analyst Sean Trende has seen little success from the Gingrich campaign, concluding that “the numbers just aren’t there.”
Gingrich would have to win 75 percent of the remaining delegates to clinch the GOP nomination.
“His goal right now,” Trende explained, “and what his entire strategy is — and he says this — is to keep Romney from getting to 1,144 [delegates], and split up the delegates enough ways that there’s a brokered convention and maybe he can convince all of the delegates to break his way there.”
But Gingrich might be in for more disappointment.
Rasmussen suggested that if anything, it is “conceivable” that GOP front-runner Mitt Romney could go to an open convention with with less than 50 percent of the delegates but a big lead, meaning he would be the nominee no matter what.
“The only way it becomes a brokered convention is if none of the candidates has a big lead,” Rasmussen explained. “If that happens, you have a free-for-all — a pretty unlikely scenario.”
Both analysts agree that if Gingrich ended his candidacy, most of his voters would go to Santorum, but not all of them.
In fact, Trende predicted that Gingrich dropping out would increase Romney’s odds of becoming the nominee. Romney, with 507 delegates, stands twice as tall next to Santorum’s 239 delegates.
“The race right now is between Romney and a brokered convention,” Trende speculated. “It will be very difficult for Rick Santorum to get to 1,144 [delegates], whether Gingrich is in or not.”
No argument here - of course it will be good for the ‘party’ - the good old boys will have what they want, keeping their power/money no matter who wins the gen election - obozo or Romney or Santorum - makes no difference to them. However, a president Gingrich will be detrimental to their power/wealth! Of course they want Gingrich to drop out! After all, they are the ones to suppress Gingrich every step of the way! They pumnp and dump candidates. With the lucky good-timing Santorum, they pump but not dump so he can be one of the tools to eliminate Gingrich.
All you smart voters, do you really think Santorum can compete head on with Romney? You really think he can survive obozo/media? You are so fooled into choosing their chosen one to be defeated in the gen election and you don’t even know it!!
Open your eyes! The dems who vote for Romney and Santorum will vote for obozo later! The E couldn’t care less if Romney or Santorum or obozo is the president. They want you to settle for the business-as-usual guy or obozo. They don’t want you to have the fearless leader who will change Washington.
Gingrich dropping out is their wish come true and reward for their hard work at killing Gingrich’s candidacy!
Those who fall for their manipulation are really brainless or at least are devoid of judgement!
Force Gingrich to drop out at your own risk. You deserve what/whom you vote for! Vote for Romney or Santorum and you are voting for obozo, pelosi, Reid, Schummer et al again! Vote for Gingrich and you will watch these RATS drop...... but of course you don’t want that, you want the E to have their ways!
Rasmussen is a hack for Romney. His polling is now a joke, especially since he went exclusive.
And even his pathetic polls indicate that if Newt were to drop out, Romney would benefit the most. Rasputenmen does not want this to go to a brokered convention, which is now, nearly a reality.
“Can we ever again vote for someone that we actually want for President? “
I can. I want Newt for President more than anyone else I can even think of right now.
What’s nauseating is self-righteous posts like those from you two.
It’s not Newt’s fault if your boy can’t cut the mustard, or vice-versa, and defending the good old boy network that is trying to keep the best man for the job out of the picture is just sickening.
I guess, like Rasmussen, you’re more concerned with what’s good for the party than for the country.
AS IF your opinion matters for much on this topic.
Very well said, and speaks for many of us. Thanks
It may be good for the Party but it would be better for the Country if they all dropped out...
With the problems facing America, NEWT is the only choice of those in the race or not who has the abilities, capabilities, experience and desire to actually make the difference and fix America. There is no one else to consider as long as Newt is in the race.
Newt can.. He can handle it..
I just don’t get you folks. Newt could not handle Romney’s little millions in Florida and you think he is going to be able to handle Obama’s billion? What are you guys thinking?
“Damon Corp, with Romney paid $119 million in a fine.
Yet Willard says, for his leadership, it’s time.
He claims jobs he can create and taxes he can lower,
47th out of 50 in growth he rates. Can it get any slower?”
Great post!
BTW Romney misspelled his family name.
In fact his name is ... R-MONEY! :)
You really think that Newt can win a brokered convention? I don’t. How can they pick a guy who won 2 states? That is what you guys don’t get.
Curbed-stomped? You mean like what occurred to Newt in Florida? Crushed, thrashed, and dumped into an ash heap in FL.
Way to go! Go Newt Go Go Go!!!!!!! Let them all squirm! On to Convention!!!!
Newt cares that Romney not win and knows he'll be bad for this country.... and knows Santorum cannot stand the Obama machine which will come at him...And Rick's shown he isn't up for the fight. Time and again he struggles to phrase his remarks because he isn't authentic...he rides the waves of what others create. So your post is baloney! Sheesh! Newt's calling the shots on this Primary and people don't like that it's not going according to how they want it to go....tought....
On to Convention!! There's no way anyone can call how that will go...zip zero.
Money is not going to be the issue ..... the message will be and who delivers it. Santorum will fold as we've seen him do time and again...or at best he'll miss the mark he could have otherwise shot across the bow. He does not think well under pressue and that's evidenced time and again.
What we are thinking is there's no candidate as fit and able to take out Obama as Newt is....once Santorum and Romney are out Newt will have the financial support needed to take Obama on....no problem!
With Santorum we'll get a player who will sell us out for political gain....he rides the waves other create....so he'll be a yes man in Washington. He does not have the tools to move congress to act....just check how many in congress are supporting him.
I am close to not even considering Santorum if he's the last man standing....let the democrates take the fall because withot Newt at the helm it's a guarantee the nation will go down.
Everybody knows full well all the powers that be are hitting Newt left and right when ever he rises....You can certainly favor Santorum....but he's not who they are after now is he?
[ Newt could not handle Romney’s little millions in Florida and you think he is going to be able to handle Obama’s billion? What are you guys thinking? ]
Romney is a republican traitor, Obama is a democrat traitor..
Big difference..
If you cannot see that no wonder you’re confused..
I am not confused. I am realistic and know 100 percent that Gingrich will NOT be our nominee. You guys in dreamland are the ones that are confused. I am just humoring you guys in your delusion.
Gingrich is the only remaining candidate of any note, and as we see he is struggling even amongst conservative.
We are so screwed.
ROFLMAO! I will quote several of your misguided, confirmed posts, where you equated “President Santorum”, will win in a landslide.
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