Romney, Santorum to Skip March 1 Debate

National Journal ^ | 2/16/12 | Sarah B. Boxer

[KansasGirl]

The front of the GOP pack will be absent at the March 1 debate in Atlanta sponsored by CNN and the Georgia Republican Party, CBS News/National Journal has learned. The Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum campaigns said they have decided to skip the debate, throwing into question whether it will happen as planned. "With eight other states voting on March 6, we will be campaigning in other parts of the country and unable to schedule the CNN Georgia debate," Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said. "We have participated in 20 debates, including eight from CNN." The 20 debates include one scheduled for Feb. 22 in Mesa, Ariz.

[conservativejoy]

Yep, and you see who Cain is supporting after that one on one debate.:)

[Joe 6-pack]

Rick and Newt met for a sit down panel...not really a formal debate, just before Veteran's Day...that's on Youtube. At the time, Cain was getting all the coverage, and just starting into his downslide with the lady problems. Neither Newt nor Rick really had any traction at the time and both were glad for the forum. It was just after this time that Newt's campaign rhetoric turned to him following Obama around the country challenging him to L-D debates at every stop. Every second and third word out his mouth was "Lincoln-Douglas." By the end of November/early December Cain was all but done. That's when Rick said, "OK...I think that's a great idea...I'll do a Lincoln-Douglas with Newt in Iowa."

Newt didn't respond to Rick, but was willing to go head-to-head with Huntsman (yes...Huntsman?!?!) in a formal debate about a week later.

Personally, I think Rick should go to GA and debate, but at the same time, he did lay down the gauntlet last December and Newt refused to pick it up. Newt and his supporters have no moral standing to say that Rick is "chickening" out of Georgia.

[Joe 6-pack]

See my #162.

[editor-surveyor]

Romney and Santorum are the ones with the most explaining to do, so of course they want to skip the debate.

[conservativejoy]

Let’s hope so. Maybe those who were just desperate to nominate anyone but Romney will now see that Rick/Romney are one and the same.

It would appear that this strategy has been in the works since Rick endorsed Romney in 2008.

[patriot08]

ENOUGH: CNN DROPS DEBATE AFTER RICK AND MITT SAY ‘NO’

http://www.drudgereport.com/

[SecondAmendment]

> To the 95% on this thread who are dissing every Rep. candidate except Newt, did you bother reading the article?

Yes, did you ?

Santorum "has no plans of doing it right now," spokesman Hogan Gidley said of the March 1 debate.

Hmm ... no mention of the order of who cancelled first, or who had prior knowledge of other withdrawals.

All we know for certain from the article is that the only candidate who agreed to show up for the debate was NEWT, everyone else were too busy to bother with the debate, period, end of story.

This is particularly bizarre, since Ron Paul will talk to ANYONE, at ANYTIME, about ANYTHING, including himself.

[Jeff Head]

Total voters, or GOP voters?

Anyhow, by Super Tuesday we will only be at about 5 million.

[b9]

Santorum said all the right things, exactly what he knew they wanted to hear, nevermind the facts of his lame record.

His support has to be based on feelings because facts PROVE he's weak. The left went through the same with Obama, but he looked good...

[onyx]

Thanks. Sarah Palin said a million. I used her guess.

[onyx]

ickening. Cowardly GOP-E candidates.

[TitansAFC]

Your guy is afraid of his own shadow. Face it! He thinks Iran is about to nuke North Dakota. He might just use SOPA to stop anyone from ridiculing him for it, too. Of COURSE he does not want us peasants asking him any questions or watching him face tough queries on national TV!

I love that Santorum backers justify Rick flip-flopping on a debate he already committed to by saying it’s a good idea because bad things might happen to Rick because of it. LOL

Oh yeah, he’s SO ready for Obama!

Or perhaps I should more honestly quip; he’s SO ready for Joe Biden!

“Brave Santorum ran away.
Bravely ran away away.
When danger reared it’s ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Santorum turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.
****Bravely**** taking to his feet,
He beat a very brave retreat.
Bravest of the braaaave, Santorum....”

[tomkat]

I share yall's sentiments .. GOP is characteristically moronic for buying into the whole 'enemy hosting the debates' scenario to begin with, and Rom-torum could well be in cahoots with this particular move.

I'll still vote, but it's looking more and more likely that this nation is less than a year away from widespread un-civil insurrection

[Clyde5445]

“(S)ickening. Cowardly GOP-E candidates.”

Yes they are. It’s one big National Lampoon movie.

[b9]

Perfect Poem! LOL

Brave Santorum (Sir Robin)

[b9]

You MUST read Titans perfect parody #172

TERRIFIC!!!

GO NEWT!!!

[b9]

It’s one big National Lampoon movie.

Or a Monty Python parody! (see #172)

[Right_in_Virginia]

That’s a keeper! : )

[Clyde5445]

“Or a Monty Python parody! (see #172)”

That too.

[Marguerite]

When danger reared it’s ugly head,

He bravely turned his tail and fled.

Yes, brave Santorum turned about

And gallantly he chickened out.