Excellent post #66.
Newt is not splitting the conservative vote—he is ensuring there IS a conservative vote come the nomination.
Santorum has 150 HARD delegates now(not total); Newt has 133. Romney has more than twice of either.
Newt knows Romney, the Massachusetts moderate, is a disaster for the GOP in the general. By staying in, he is helping himself, and is actually helping Santorum to stay viable, because Romney has to expend resources on fighting two candidates, not one.
My belief is that Romeny would basically cream Santorum in attacks if it was just the two of them. Remember, Santorum endorsed Romney in 2008 very strongly.
At this point, the best outcome is for both Santorum and Newt to shadow each other all the way to Tampa, blocking Romney. It is blowing a hole in the m edia and GOP establishment positions that Romney is inevitable.
Also Newt staying in, is defining the issues in the campaign. Chu didn’t change positions due to Santorum or Romney—it is because Newt Gingrich has set the table, and has taken on Obama daily.
Newt is a leader—I do not see that in Santorum. Newt is helping to take and deflect fire that would solely be directed to Santorum.
The takeaway from MS and AL is twofold:
1. 70% of the primary voters did not vote for Romney.
2. Ron Paul needs to go away.
What is happening is what should happen in the primaries—candidates battling it out.
Newt is clearly the most conservative viable candidate in this race, to win against Obama.
I wish the ultra conservative Christians could see that we are not electing an altar boy, we need a fighter this go around, and that is Newt.
“At this point, the best outcome is for both Santorum and Newt to shadow each other all the way to Tampa, blocking Romney. It is blowing a hole in the media and GOP establishment positions that Romney is inevitable.”
Not to mention it’s will blow a hole in the attempt to remove O from office.
I like your tagline . . . as such, we need to remember who the enemy really is.
Ditto on your #66 dear txrangerette
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Yours is spot on too, dearest exit82.
I think last night in my state and also in Alabama, proved that it’s a little too late for “the ultra conservative Christians to see that we are not electing an altar boy, we need a fighter this go around, and that is Newt” (as you put it).
Newt gave it his best, and he fared very well, given that he got no local endorsements. Santorum got the endorsement of AL’s governor, whereas mine endorsed Romney!
I’m still silly happy that Romney came in third in both states! LOL.
Newt has to stay in all the way to the convention. It’s all about delegates and having a voice. Nobody is going to reach the magic number. All this talk about coalescing around one is just that: talk by the rival campaigns.
There’s no guarantee where Newt’s voters would go. Newt’s name would remain on the ballots, just like Governor Perry’s Michele Bachmann and others were on my MS ballot.
Paul is staying in. Newt is staying in.
If anyone drops out, make it Romney.
He’s poisoned this primary from the get go with his money and vicious attack ads.
I’ll never reward him with my vote.
God speed Newt Gingrich.