Posted on 01/05/2012 2:27:02 PM PST by Hunton Peck
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Conservative leaders say it's time to rally behind a single Republican presidential candidate - and fast - to prevent Mitt Romney from winning the GOP nomination.
The former Massachusetts governor narrowly won the Iowa caucuses after conservatives split their support among Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry. Now, some conservative leaders are talking about a group endorsement...
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
That's the single best idea I've heard so far this election season. Love it!
For Santorum I would not have to hold my nose to vote. Not so for Newt or Perry.
But I would vote for any of the three over Obama.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Prominent conservative leaders want their rank and file to quickly get behind a single presidential candidate, fearful that persistent splits will help Mitt Romney win the Republican nomination.[story continues]The former Massachusetts governor narrowly won the Iowa caucuses when conservative voters divided their support among several challengers, and the worry is that the same thing will happen in South Carolina, Florida and beyond if Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry all stay in the race.
"Conservatives are still divided among a number of different candidates, but the field is winnowing," said former Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer. And, he said: "I certainly think that Senator Santorum is in a good position to inherit a lot of that support."
In the afterglow of Santorum's unexpectedly narrow loss to Romney in Iowa, leaders on the right who have been scarcely engaged in the rollicking Republican contest began buzzing about the prospect of endorsing the former Pennsylvania senator with the solid conservative credentials - or someone else such as Gingrich who has deep conservative roots.
To discuss how to proceed, some of those leaders have set up meetings from Washington to Texas before the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary.That vote could prove pivotal, given that the Republicans who have won the state for decades have eventually become the party's nominees.
"There is movement, even members of Congress who are weighing this now who are looking to make a move," said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who said he's spoken with more than eight leaders with conservative constituencies, including lawmakers. He declined to name them but added: "I do think you'll see growing momentum toward Rick Santorum."
Indeed, interviews with a number of leaders, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid, indicated that Santorum was...
I’m pulling for Nasty Newt to get as Nasty as he can get.
It will help Santorum. Go Postal Nasty Newt.
At this point its Santorum or nuthin for me.
Basically we’re going to have to drop one in South Carolina - either Newt, Perry, or Santorum. That’s going to leave around 55-60% of the vote between them. It’s the only way to beat Romney and Paul.
Agreed.
Perry should positively speak up for a favored candidate, one who has a shot.
RR rule number one?
Never speak ill?
Newt the historian missed the memo.
We all want the fire directed at Mr Zero?
Right? Bring it to the White House people.
That is the universal motivator, the path to our hearts.
Instigating infighting,politics of personal destruction is the modern standard, patented Clintonian,and now system wide Big D method. Never mind the issues.
Feeds the media exactly what it wants.
Stupid.
It has become personal for the eternally, mercilessly ugly Newt. He does not care about collateral damage.
The amateur hour emotionalism proves him unworthy.
I think it needs to be asked.
How is Santorum wimping out and letting Newt take on Romney going to help him?
I wouldn’t vote for the guy that is trying to squeak by on some other persons offensive drive. Unless people on our side abhor a candidate going on offense then I cant see Newt going on offense helping anyone but Newt, because in the end the winner will have to face Obama, and being Mr. Squeaked isnt going to be effective against a pseudo dictator.
Agreed.
Perry should positively speak up for a favored candidate, one who has a shot.
RR rule number one?
Never speak ill?
Newt the historian missed the memo.
We all want the fire directed at Mr Zero?
Right? Bring it to the White House people.
That is the universal motivator, the path to our hearts.
Instigating infighting,politics of personal destruction is the modern standard, patented Clintonian,and now system wide Big D method. Never mind the issues.
Feeds the media exactly what it wants.
Stupid.
It has become personal for the eternally, mercilessly ugly Newt. He does not care about collateral damage.
The amateur hour emotionalism proves him unworthy.
We all will vote for the person we feel is the best.
There is great disagreement here, just as there is in the
nation about who to rally around.
I’m sure when this process is over, we will all support the
GOP nominee.
This article is jumping the gun.
We’ve had one caucus and one candidate has since dropped out.
Over the next four weeks there will be primaries or caucuses in four more states.
The process is working as it should. Those who win votes and attract donations will go forward and those who do not will drop out. It will all happen quickly and naturally.
Time will tell if Santorum has staying power, if Perry can get up off the mat, and if Newt goes up or down.
The time to worry about rallying behind a single non-Romney candidate is still six to eight weeks away.
not the mama
After it, we should see about 3 emerge in strong positions. Numbers 4 and 5 would probably drop out soon thereafter.
The big problem the Elite wing has is Romney. If Romney cannot get more than the 20-some he has been getting for months, he is in deep trouble. Full Primary/Caucus Calendar == *Missouri: Missouri will hold a primary on February 7th, 2012, which will not count for delegates toward the 2012 GOP convention. The Missouri Republican Party will hold a caucus on March 17th, 2012, which will determine the delegates sent to the 2012 GOP convention – See report from CNN
January 3, 2012
Iowa (caucus) – Results
January 10, 2012
New Hampshire (primary)
January 21, 2012
South Carolina (primary)
January 31, 2012
Florida (primary)
February 4, 2012
Nevada (caucus)
February 4–11, 2012
Maine (caucus)
February 7, 2012
Colorado (caucus)
Minnesota (caucus)
Missouri (primary) – *See note below on Missouri
February 28, 2012
Arizona (primary)
Michigan (primary)
March 3, 2012
Washington (caucus)
March 6, 2012
(Super Tuesday)Alaska (caucus)
Georgia (primary)
Idaho (caucus)
Massachusetts (primary)
North Dakota (caucus)
Ohio (primary)
Oklahoma (primary)
Tennessee (primary)
Vermont (primary)
Virginia (primary)
March 6-10, 2012
Wyoming (caucus)
March 10, 2012
Kansas (caucus)
U.S. Virgin Islands (caucus)
March 13, 2012
Alabama (primary)
Hawaii (caucus)
Mississippi (primary)
March 17, 2012
Missouri (GOP caucus) – *See note below on Missouri
March 20, 2012
Illinois (primary)
March 24, 2012
Louisiana (primary)
April 3, 2012
District of Columbia (primary)
Maryland (primary)
Wisconsin (primary)
Texas (primary)
April 24, 2012
Connecticut (primary)
Delaware (primary)
New York (primary)
Pennsylvania (primary)
Rhode Island (primary)
May 8, 2012
Indiana (primary)
North Carolina (primary)
West Virginia (primary)
May 15, 2012
Nebraska (primary)
Oregon (primary)
May 22, 2012
Arkansas (primary)
Kentucky (primary)
June 5, 2012
California (primary)
Montana (primary)
New Jersey (primary)
New Mexico (primary)
South Dakota (primary)
June 26, 2012
Utah (primary)
Santorum and Romney will be so milquetoast that it will make me sick. Trump surged to popularity because he called BO out for what he is. He didn’t say “he’s a nice guy ...but” a la Romney. I want Newt because he WILL call out BO. He’s the only one I see that will do it. Another Mr. Nice Guy will get the most nasty man in the country and his wife reelected.
Nasty Newt to take it to BO— the most nasty of all.
I disagree.
Santorum will finish ahead of Newt in NH, will get a couple of Big Evangelical Endoresments, very soon, and will down south with some BIG MO.. and money.
He's a big gov't, establishment neocon lawyer with no executive experience. With his legend-in-his-own-mind prowess of vanquishing incumbent Democrats, if Santorum wanted to do some good he would try to get his Senate seat back from rat Casey.
You rarely hear people talking about behind the scenes stuff there in this detail. I was fascinated by it and suspect there are others here who would enjoy it. Santorum did play a significant role in several of the good congressional actions back around Newt's golden age. Those who like Newt in part because of his ability to get things done, but don't know much about Santorum may find this useful in evaluating what Santorum might do, how he'd go about it and whether you believe he'd succeed. By all means use your own judgement. BTW, be warned that the audio quality is serviceable, not perfect. Sometimes it gets pretty soft and once you could hear a train passing outside.
If you like this it appears to be part of a series. They also have audio interviews with Perry (12/21/11), Gingrich (12/19/11), Romney, Bachmann (12/8/11) and Pawlenty (7/25/11). I haven't yet listened to any but Santorum's but will be downloading more to listen to when I find the time.
And santorum endorsed Arlen Spector and was earmark king while in congress..... Just as bad as sitting on a couch with Nancy...
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