Posted on 01/21/2012 10:53:47 PM PST by gogogodzilla
I can confirm tonight from multiple sources that phone calls are in fact occurring between Republicans in Washington and among evangelical leaders to raise money for Rick Santorum rapidly.
The sources tell me that this is not for a Santorum win, though the evangelicals I spoke to continue to hope it is possible. This is to stop Newt Gingrich. One evangelical leader I spoke to said, “If Newt wins, we won’t be able to make family values an issue in the general.” One lobbyist I spoke to said, “They [the GOP leaders in DC] are really nervous about Gingrich and they think he’d be a disaster. The best way to shut him down is to prop up Rick.”
Florida is going to get interesting.
This pretty much confirms that Santorum will endorse Romney when his run ends.
So, the GOP moderates are trying to turn evangelicals against Gingrich -— to what end?
To support Romney, of course!
I don’t think Santorum will keep going very long. A poor showing in Florida and others will force him to suspend his campaign evenutally.
This shows the desperation of the moderate GOP establishment.
Gingrich would be a disaster, for the INSIDERS in Washington who like things just the way they are.
But for our Country, Gingrich will do just fine, and he is far and away the best equipped to hit the ground running on Day One. He won't need a 1-year learning curve.
Perry is behind Newt, and Perry is just fine on Family Values. Perry said Newt isn't perfect, "but who among us is?" Perry has it right.
“Let’s wait and see. What you are saying doesn’t make sense”
It makes perfect sense...this isn’t about values or religion.
The Establishment is going to prop up Santorum to divide the conservative vote. It’s just as simple and beautiful as that.
It’s the only way they can win.
Exit poll internals from last night show that people are voting more on economic issues than on Religious and Family Value issues. Take a look at the questions in the exit polls about halfway down on this link:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2012/south-carolina-primary-jan-21/exit-polls
On the question:
How much does it matter to you that a candidate shares your religious beliefs?
Newt kicked butt on both Romney and Santorum, for people who said it matters. Newt also kicked both their butts on the question of Abortion (legal/illegal).
But for one-issue voters, for the EIGHT PERCENT who said Abortion was their number reason for their vote, Santorum got 51% of the vote, and Gingrich got 29%, Romney got 6%. But that is a voting block of EIGHT PERCENT of Republicans voting in a State Primary. That margin will disappear in a General.
The internals on the Exit Poll do not support what this article implies... Gingrich is the better candidate for winning the vote on the issues they are talking about. Unless they are the EIGHT PERCENT who are one-issue voters on the subject of Abortion.
And remember this was a Republican Primary. So if the Republicans are feeling like this, Religion and Family Values will be even less of a factor in the General Election.
“THe main issue for conservatives is whether is one is pro life or not, Newt has a great record as good as Santorum. Rick need to look at reality and do the right thing for the country like R Perry did.”
Unfortunately, it is being proven that Santorum is too vain for that. Perry was his superior, he just blew his debates early.
I’ve always liked Santorum until this election. If he wants to debate and argue policy, go for it. But now he is taking the Liberal Media DNC (and apparently Mitt line)...that Newt is unhinged and crazy.
I despise Santorum now, he is clearly not for conservatism but for Rick santorum....who is showing us just how really small he is.
Bump
This looks like wishful thinking on the part of Erick Erickson at RedState.
Is is just me or has RedState become a lot more liberal ala Fox News?
Eric the Red has been supporting Romney for a long time.
http://archive.redstate.com/stories/elections/2008/im_tossing_in_with_romney
It really bothers me when one, two or a dozen attempt to speak for and represent evangelicals--it's like herding cats BTW
This Baptist and I believe many many other evangelicals can see the big picture and are not compromising principles by supporting someone who gives us most of what we want in a candidate...
Umm that doesn’t make any sense.
This article is describing a plan by Romney and the Establishment to keep Santorum in the race to divide the conservative vote...via Evangelicals.
Maybe they can talk about Forgiveness,I thought that was something Christians Cared about.
Now if Obama wins reelection because Romney is a Loser ,what will Christians do when they will be paying for abortions Foe EVERYONE who wants one,Including those Christian Hospitals. Only Newt Gingrich is Challenging Judges who are Dictators from the Bench squashing Christians rights. I have Not heard old Mitt mention stopping Judges from this once
Spot on. The R-establishment is scared to death of Newt..and their conventional wisdom says he can’t win the general. So, they’re going for a two-fer, backing Santorum for Florida to deflect from their candidate. They will declare all out war on Gingrich, and if Santorum would prevail (unlikely), they would target him next.
Sickens me to see how much money becomes a discriminator.
‘One evangelical leader I spoke to said, “If Newt wins, we won’t be able to make family values an issue in the general.”’
‘Pretty stupid logic. Christianity requires repentance and reform, not perfection. Even Jimmy Carter understood that. Pity this ‘evangelical leader’ does not.’
Agreed. Why not make forgiveness an issue in the general election? Sanctimonious Santorum is getting on my nerves.
Yep. I’ve been saying that for about two weeks now.
So in other words, Santroum will this year’s Huckabee playing spoiler for the Pharisee’s of the “Evangelical” movement.
Right... and that’s why he endorsed Perry for this election.
And then asked him to bow out for Newt.
That’s showing so much Romney support there...
Geez.
Erickson is making a personal calculation. He is starting to get attention from the Establishment. He knows full well he has to play ball if he wants a air time as a “Fox News Consultant” and “Conservative” media talking head.
The machine wants Romney and Erickson is selling out the Conservative movement in exchange for his place at the media money trough.
Yep.
I’ve been saying that since Iowa. He draws the exact same voting demographic.
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