Posted on 02/01/2012 10:48:52 AM PST by Red Steel
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)-- Trounced in Florida, presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Tuesday used the defeat to declare that he alone is the conservative alternative to GOP front-runner Mitt Romney.
Gingrich ignored the fact that the other two candidates in the race -- Ron Paul and Rick Santorum -- chose not to run aggressive campaigns in the state.
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Gingrich's defiant pledge to continue on against Romney sets the stage for a bitter brawl for the Republican nomination that could last for months. Gingrich supporters Tuesday night hoisted signs that read "46 States to Go."
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"I just want to reassure everyone, we are going to contest every place and we are going to win and we will be in Tampa as the nominee in August," he said.
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Gingrich now heads to Nevada, which is set to hold caucuses Saturday. Romney won Nevada when he sought the GOP nomination in 2008 and has had a campaign team there for months.
Gingrich's fortunes could rest on Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who remains in the race despite weak showings in South Carolina and now Florida. He was a distant third in both contests. Santorum continues to pull conservative and evangelical support that would likely move to Gingrich if he left the race. Tuesday's results could increase the pressure on Santorum to drop out.
(Excerpt) Read more at aikenstandard.com ...
Santorum got 13% without making half the effort Newt did.
he probably has just as much a right to stay in as Newt does
I had no idea how badly the hit on Santorum regarding his deceased child had hurt him until I happened to chat with a neighbor last night.
My neighbor is left leaning, an older educated man. He made reference to Santorum “playing with the dead child” with disdain. While how the Santorums handled the tragic event isn’t for me, I don’t judge that. I think it was reasonable, and told my neighbor so.
Remember that Santorum will beat Romney in Missouri next Tuesday. Newt is not even on the ballot there. I’m hoping for a brokered convention at this point, though it is unlikely as every effort will be made to make this a two man race. If nothing else, it might actually excite some interest in the nominee.
Romney’s spoiler should get out now.
“TROUNCED”.. is hyperbole... Newt lost by only a few points.. He wasn’t trounced..
I believe trounced was a reference to 50 delegates to zero.
The last time I checked it was 15 points. Thats a lot more than "only a few". Just saying...
the trouble is which one is the spoiler? Newt is brilliant one moment and a disaster the next. I have a feeling that SC was a one trick pony due to unique circumstances at the time. He won with a strong debate performance and took on the media. Can he replicate something like that? he did not shine in the Florida debates and was off message while campaigning.
Santorum for all his faults (and he has many) did very well in the last Florida debate. He also has been steadier than Newt in terms of a campaign infrastructure etc.
I guess we will have to wait and see who emerges stronger after a couple more contests.
Romney is only who he is because of Rick.
Santorum is running interference for Romney. I have lost all respect for him. He also has less delegates than Gingrich. He’s acting as a spoiler and is without honor. Where’s his daughter and where is he? Hm? That and the mud slinging tells me all I need to know about him.
My dog died in my arms. I wanted to hold him forever.
I can’t imagine letting go of an infant. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child. That shouldn’t have been an issue.
This is obvious. It is a two man race. He’s right.
Pick your poison, if you’re still into drinking whatever beverage the formerly grand old party serves up.
Santorum served his sole purpose — thwarting Gingrich.
Stalking-dog Santorum exist to give Romney the nomination.
Indeed, if Santorum had not been in the race, it would have been a less-than-1%-victory.
He’s a whiney brat that lost his own state in a spectacular fashion. He got 41% of the vote in 2006.
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