[Riodacat]

Newt needs to step out of the way and let Rick and Mittens duke it out.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I disagree (although there ia an exception that I will address).

Let’s look at the math in this. Most proportional States have certain rules about who gains delegates and in which way. For example, a lot of States have a rule that you must hit the 20% threshold in order to gain delegates, and you win bonus delegates by winning Congressional districts.

So let’s look at Alabama last night.

Last night:
Santorum 35% — 17 delegates
Gingrich 29% — 12 delegates
Romney 29% — 10 delegates

Now if Gingrich wasn’t in last night, we would like to assume that all of his votes would go to Santorum, but likely some would go to Romney. If as little as 12% of Gingrich’s vote total had gone to Romney, the results might have looked like:

Santorum 59% — 27 delegates
Romney 34% — 12 delegates

Now if you are hoping for Santorum to win the nomination, that is a better outcome. But the odds are very long that Santorum will win the nomination. If your goal, however, is to stalemate Romney and deny him the nomination, Gingrich dropping out would be a bad thing because it would allow Romney the chance to build more delegates.

Now, the exception is that I believe Gingrich should pull all efforts from any “winner take all” State and work behind the scenes to push Santorum forward. Texas and Illinois could both fall to Santorum if Gingrich would do that, and that would seriously hamper Romney.

[AlwaysFrosty]

“Newt needs to step out of the way and let Rick and Mittens duke it out.”

Agreed...but I heard some rumblings about a Rick/Newt ticket? This current primary has been so unconventional why not announce the ticket? By combining their shared mojo it could prove to be an insurmountable defense against Mitt...unless he is then pushed to name a VP early and then it would be game on.

by the way I believe it would be a Rick/Newt ticket since Rick has earned it thus far.

[svcw]

Santorum and Romney are duking it out. Gingrich is keeping Romney from being crowed glory king.
Way to go Newt!!!! Stay in the race.

[The Old Commander]

How about Mitt improving his message so that he will be more acceptable....Such as lowering income taxes to 15%. How silly of me, that low rate is only for him!

[caww]

Newt’s taking the heat Santorum would otherwise be getting....He has to stay in to keep the attention from SAntorum ...(though Santorums not my guy)...otherwise the Romney Machine and all the other machines working against Newt will come down hard on SAntorum.