Posted on 01/17/2012 8:42:14 PM PST by VinL
— Newt Gingrich says he thinks Sarah Palin’s remarks on Fox News that she would vote for him in Saturday’s primary if she lived in South Carolina may just be what puts him over the top.
That’s what he told Todd Palin, the former vice presidential nominee’s husband, who outright endorsed him ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Continue Reading Text Size
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“We’re thrilled — I just talked to Todd and we’re just thrilled,” he told POLITICO as he headed into his hotel here for the night. “It’s a signal to every conservative that the one conservative vote that’s effective is to Newt Gingrich and that’s very helpful.”
Gingrich’s campaign immediately cut a YouTube video of the Palin remarks and tweeted it out to supporters.
Palin, Gingrich said, is part of a rush of support he believes will power him to victory on Saturday — and from there, into the candidate who will beat Mitt Romney to the GOP nomiantion.
“Lots of different things are working together to help us,” Gingrich said.
But Chip Saltsman, former campaign manager to Mike Huckabee, cautioned that with the election in only a few days and the support likely stopping with her remarks on Hannity, the news may have come too late to make a difference.
“For it to make an impact she needs to come to support him,” Saltsman said. “Is it a game changer where it turns everything around? My thoughts are probably not.”
In an appearance on Fox News, Palin stopped short of endorsing Gingrich. But she didn’t leave any doubt where her preference was.
“I would vote for Newt and I would want it to continue,” she said of the campaign. “More debates, more vetting of candidates.”
Palin is a well-known figure in the conservative movement and her endorsement has been considered one of the biggest gets in this year’s campaign cycle. She used her support strategically in 2008, weighing in on midterm elections that in turn produced large fundraising prowess and surprise primary victories.
Gingrich has been traveling the Palmetto State trying to make the argument that despite disappointing finishes in New Hampshire and Iowa, he is the best candidate for conservatives to rally around.
Without a victory on Saturday, Gingrich could see his campaign come to an imminent end. He’s called the state a “must win” and said it would be “very hard” to keep going after another defeat.
Palin said she was among the many Republicans impressed by Gingrich’s debate performance Monday night.
“I do think that Newt is the one that won the debate if you will, because Newt came out like South Carolina’s own Smokin’ Joe Frazier,” she said on Hannity. “He came out there swinging, talking about work, talking about jobs and work ethic and how government needs to get out of the way in order for all Americans to have a sense of opportunity to work, and I think that’s what a lot of voters have been craving to hear.”
Romney has volunteers all around Florida working hard.
That is a gorgeous picture of Sarah.
Ditto.
Romney will win Florida. It’s his firewall in case something goes wrong in SC, which is why Palin qualified her “endorsement” to SC.
Palin knows that Newt is a tremendously flawed candidate, which is why she’s doing whatever she can to slow Mitt down. Today, her agent of choice is Newt.
Tomorrow, it might be someone else.
Best,
Chris
This time, I just don't see how in good conscience that I can vote Mitt. Things are keep going to go to shit with either candidate, so I rather have the dims blamed for it.
So you are saying Rove and Coulter may not get it?
Pray for America
“Are you hoping she will still get in the race?”
If the RNC gives her their blessing to get in the race, sure.
You might be right.
I’ve heard that Newt might get another big endorsement on Thursday.
Romney isn’t Conservative enough for Rush.
I’m not sure that he likes any in the field.
He used to say over and over that Bam would lose in a landslide.
Haven’t heard him repeat that prediction lately! :-(
Hey Christie- I think if Newt wins, or comes real close, in SC- FLA can be competitive. (Fingers crossed for luck.)
Great day wishes to you and yours. -:)
Hi Mary- When I hear Rush say “we cannot allow a moderate like Romney to get this nomination, and so let’s unite around ___________”
That’s when I’ll be back with El Rushbo.
Look at Newt’s debate comments. It’s all Tea Party, and he meant it.
I felt the same way about Gingrinch when he got behind Dede and lambasted the tea party. I was PISSED. But, he did come out and apologized; said he was wrong on that. He’s flawed, no doubt. But he’s way better than Romney and he’s the one poised to beat him, over Santorum and Perry. So I say let bygones be bygones :)
Rush supported Romney in 08 just like I did and many, many others because we could not STAND the thought of McLame being our president.
We ALL know alot more about Romney now and, theoretically, have better choices this go ‘round; conservative(r) choices.
Romney ain’t a conservative choice this time.
Okay, I’ll let you know when he says that! :-)
And I disagree that he’s ‘poised’ to win anything. He’s ran a terrible campaign so far.
I believe that Santorum has a chance to take this.
Well sure. Now it does. Then it didn’t.
I really don’t like that in Newt when it’s not beneficial to him, he drifts off the reservation.
Listening to his show just today—Rush already has Romney against Obama. Like there’s no primary.
In the tank.
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