Posted on 04/27/2012 2:00:43 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Mitt Romney, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, is yet to clinch all the 1,144 delegates he needs to officially be declared the winner of the race, and all but one of his previous campaign rivals have given him their support – with Rick Santorum being the only apparent holdout.
It was revealed Wednesday that both Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race in January, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, have decided to endorse Romney.
"So today I join the many conservative Republicans across the nation in endorsing Mitt Romney for president and pledge to him, my constituents and the Republican Party that I will continue to work hard to help defeat President (Barack) Obama," Perry said, according to Reuters. Perry had initially endorsed Gingrich when he dropped out of the race.
Gingrich , who is still technically in the race, made it quite clear yesterday that he will be suspending his campaign next week.
According to Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond, on Wednesday morning, the former House Speaker spoke to Romney by phone and shared that he will endorse him for the presidency, The Wall Street Journal reported.
"I think you have to at some point be honest with what's happening in the real world, as opposed to what you'd like to have happened," Gingrich said after Romney swept big victories in five Northeastern states on Tuesday. "Gov. Romney had a very good day yesterday. He got 67 [percent] in one state, and he got 63 in other, 62 in another. Now you have to give him some credit, I mean this guy's worked six years, put together a big machine, and has put together a serious campaign."
While the Republican Party largely seems to be uniting behind their presumptive nominee to face President Obama in the general election in November, arguably Romney's biggest rival, Rick Santorum, who suspended his campaign two weeks ago, remains on the fence on whether he will endorse the former Massachusetts governor or not.
The former Pennsylvania senator has avoided using the word "endorsement" or confirming comments suggesting he would endorse Romney, but according to ABC News, two senior advisers of Santorum's campaign have said that he will be meeting with Romney on May 4. They added that it is "possible" Santorum will make an official endorsement.
In a Tuesday interview with CNN's Piers Morgan, Santorum admitted that Romney would be the GOP candidate to face Obama, and he expressed his commitment to his party – but when asked if his remarks were an endorsement of Romney, Santorum simply said, "You can call it whatever you want."
Santorum promoted his campaign as a social conservative and spoke openly on issues such as abortion and homosexual marriage, and often criticized Romney for not expressing a firm stance on such points. The former Pennsylvania senator appealed largely to evangelicals and conservative Christians, and had gained the backing of many pastors and church leaders across the country. In the end, however, he was unable to compete with Romney's broader appeal.
Iowa voters received last week a late letter seeking contributions to Santorum's campaign, in which he warned that conservatives will be "crippled" if Romney wins. In the letter, Santorum said, "It truly frightens me to think what'll happen if Mitt Romney is the nominee."
Still, his wife, Karen Santorum, said during the CNN interview that they are "working through" and "talking about" formally endorsing Romney, although whether or when that will happen remains to be seen.
Romney's remaining rival, Congressman Ron Paul, has said that he intends to remain in the race even if the former Massachusetts governor nabs the GOP nomination. The highest number of votes Paul attracted in this week's Northeastern primaries was 23.9 percent in Rhode Island, where Romney got 63.2 percent of votes.
"We're in the third lap of a mile race. Who knows? Maybe someone will stumble. You can never tell. If tomorrow Romney had the absolute number, I would continue in a modified way," Rep. Paul said Monday on CNBC.
It's got to be true, eh...cause you say it is.
Sheeesh, don't you people ever quit.
He probably will, but...so what?
Has Ron Paul come on board? If Romney and the money baggers don’t pick a real Constitutional conservative, Rubio is now out for several reasons, I have to make a decision that satisfies my political standards and not just be a follower for the sake of being a sheep.
No lies here..just the truth. If you can’t deal with it ..go pray about it.
ah...so what? it is the topic of this thread.
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about....but that hasn't stopped you before.
It’s understandable that Rick is taking his time when Romney lied and even said Rick Santorum was not pro-life.
“Santorum endorsed Romney in 2008.”
Newt endorsed Romney NOW. What do you think about that?
Rick didn’t endorse Romney until six days before Romney dropped out, and then only because he thought he was the least of the evils.
“..Rick Santorum was ripped to pieces on a daily basis here at FR....torn to shreds...
Even with Gingrich supporting Romney now...”
Their DOUBLE STANDARDS are showing - BIG TIME!
So are you and your friends going to criticize Newt?
If Gingrich endorses Romney - swish!!!!
“No lies here..just the truth. If you can’t deal with it ..go pray about it.”
lol.
Same as me! It’s like we are twins!
Santorum, Cain, Bachman, Gingrich, Perry and yes even Sarah Palin will ALL be campaigning for Romney this year.
The silence of the posse is deafening.
Because the GOP hasn't met Santorum's "principled" price!? Because he WILL endorse him. So why wait? Debt help? Party honors?
I've really have had a bellyful of FReepers attacking Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich.
Enjoy.
I will remember YOU said that...as I said, “stay tuned” because IF I am right..I will be back to remind you.
Go pray:)
Rick Santorum has NOT endorsed Romney.....Period.
He has more principle and conviction than to play games.
Newt HAS endorsed Romney.
......Deafening silence from you all....except to continue to criticize Santorum .
...but Rick Santorum is not on this forum to defend himself against scurrilous written attacks....which many many people read at Free Republic.
It is not in my nature to be combative....
..but I will defend him and his precious family.....sadly you leave me and others no recourse.
katiedidit1 likes to say....Go pray
I will not pass judgement on whether she is serious....
..but I am called to pray for my enemies.
It is very sad to consider fellow Freepers as enemies.....but from the tone of you and your group's posts
..you are definitely enemies against Rick Santorum.
His wife & family pray for their enemies....and pray for those who say untruths and all manner of ridicule and scorn against them.
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