Santorum Holds Off on Endorsing GOP Candidate

KGOAM - San Francisco ^ | April 16, 2012 | ABC Radio News

[Cincinatus' Wife]

(NEW YORK) -- Rick Santorum said Monday night there is “no question Barack Obama has to be defeated,” but did not say he would back presumptive nominee Mitt Romney, instead revealing he had only spoken to Newt Gingrich, not Romney yet.

“As far as going with a particular presidential candidate right now -- I mean -- had a chance to talk to Newt, I haven’t had a chance yet to talk to Gov. Romney,” Santorum said on a conference call. “But we’ll be talking to both of them and we are going to go out and deal with who we believe is in the best interest of our country and winning this election and make sure that we have a conservative platform, conservative message and they follow through with that conservative message after the election.”

This is a not-so-subtle jab at the man about to become the party’s standard bearer. Santorum consistently would say on the campaign trail that in 2008, Romney convinced him of his conservative bona fides before he backed him and then Romney quickly changed his tune.

Although Santorum is expected to eventually back Romney -- both longtime adviser John Brabender and top donor Foster Friess told ABC News last week they expect him to endorse Romney -- he was specific Monday night that he was not endorsing anyone in the presidential race.

“I haven’t supported any candidate at this point,”........

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Conservatives, Tea Partiers and anti-Romney voters can still make an impact in this primary. Below is ONE example; the trend may well be replicated in all upcoming elections. So TURNOUT and take someone with you to vote! And if you have any disposable income left after this GOP-e orchestrated primary, please send something to Newt Gingrich.

__________________________****________________________

Low turnout expected in R.I. primary " In one week, Rhode Islanders will select presidential candidates on their respective party ballots, though voter turnout in the primary is expected to be low.

The Rhode Island presidential primary will take place Tuesday, April 24 in various polling locations across the state.

In the Republican primary, voters will choose between Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Buddy Roemer. President Obama is the only candidate listed on the Democrat primary ballot........

Despite the seemingly decided nature of the Republican race, primaries are still important for candidates because they predict voter turnout for the general election, said Wendy Schiller, associate professor of political science and public policy. “Once you cast a primary vote, you are much more likely to vote in the general election,” she said.

........ Patterson and Schiller predicted low voter turnout for the Rhode Island presidential primaries, because the general election candidates for both parties have all but been determined.

Rhode Island holds its primary for state leaders at a later date, which contributes to even lower voter turnout, Schiller said.....

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

Politics 101 - suspend campaign. Allows much more favorable and flexible use and abuse of campaign donations etc.

[Impy]

If you have money to donate to campaigns I recommend giving it to Conservative House and Senate candidates.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That is a good idea too.

[Happy Rain]

Both Gingrich and Romney spent millions in ads calling Rick Santorum every variety of scum in existence so he owes them nothing. Even here the Santorum hate still reaches fever pitch only now it is kind of weird...

Newt/Mitt supporters: “Rick Santorum is a dirty rotten piece of rat feces who should be endorsing my candidate!”

How can we resist such sweet talk?

Rick is still on the ballots and even if he isn't campaigning any votes for him still count towards delegates and he knows that if he is going to primary President Mitt out of office in 2016 he needs to know the final extent of his support now.

He will endorse anybody but Obama when the time comes.

[Impy]

I meant to the exclusion of wasting it on the POTUS race.

[ScottinVA]

Don`t do it, Rick. Romney`s going down in flames in November once and for all. Don`t hitch yourself to that mess!

[EnglishCon]

Come on mate.

There were plenty of Santorum supporters trashing Newt, Cain supporters trashing Perry, Perry supporters trashing Bachmann, PDSers going nuts at the idea that Palin would get in the race.

You know that.

And you know what? If Rick takes a state, despite his campaign being suspended, I will cheer as loudly as you. If Rick’s supporters cross over and vote for Newt, I will cheer. If they vote for Paul, I want whatever they are smoking, but I’ll cheer.

Right now the sole task is to deny Romney the nomination.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You are off base lumping Newt with Mitt.

Newt has had tens of millions of GOP-e/Romney ad dollars going out to carpet bomb him, starting in Iowa. Rick Santorum withdrew before Romney unleashed in PA (even though Rick was/is still beating Romney in polls in many upcoming states).

Newt came in second in FL but was heavily wounded by Romney's 10 day $2M/day assault after Gingrich soundly whupped him in South Carolina. Gingrich was the winner in his "home state" of GA and came in second in Alabama and Mississippi. If Newt had withdrawn, Mitt would have rolled over the base long ago.

Give it a rest.

[Happy Rain]

Rick didn't even come close to giving as good as he got--Paul, Gingrich and Mitt just unloaded tons of PAC bucks on negative ads against him--bucks Santorum could never come close to matching. Besides,payback is a legitimate reason for anything and it feels so good;)

I'm for anybody but Romney too but it's naive denial to believe he isn't going to get the nomination now that Rick is no longer campaigning...heck Mark Levin is trying his best to help Romney beat Obama cuz he knows the GOP die is cast and Obama must be beat.

...as Rush Limbaugh said when Santorum stopped running, “The establishment won.”

[soycd]

It has to be Newt. If he were to support the Masshole he would deserve every bad thought headed his way.

[Happy Rain]

Lets see, Rick Santorum had more votes and twice as many delegates as Newt among the anti-Romney conservatives...

...wonder why? Are conservative voters gullible and stupid?

no.

[EnglishCon]

Fair enough :)

He ran one heck of a race. Outspent 10 to 1 and still nailed a bunch of states.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t fond of Newt going negative on the senator, but the senator did it first. (ick, that sounds like a preschool argument!)

[freeangel]

Let’s face it, if Santorum would be endorsing by priniples, he would be endorsing Newt. However, I fear he has made a deal with GOP “royalty” to finally endorse Romnet in exchange for getting the nod at the next GOP run.

[Ted Grant]

They won’t make a deal like that.

They may get Santorum a cabinet post, but he won’t ever be the GOP nominee.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Rick Santorum had more votes and twice as many delegates as Newt among the anti-Romney conservatives...

Then why did he drop out of the running? No guts — no glory. Not presidential material.

Face it: Newt is the ONE conservative with the guts to hang in there. This isn’t conjecture any more — it’s PROVEN. He’s the last conservative standing IN SPITE of the hardships.

Santorum could make slight atonement for being such a weenie by throwing his support to Newt (like classy Mr. Rick Perry did). But I doubt he has the spine to do it.

[Hostage]

“But we’ll be talking to both of them and we are going to go out and deal with who we believe is in the best interest of our country and winning this election and make sure that we have a conservative platform, conservative message and they follow through with that conservative message after the election.”

I think Rick gets it on Romney and this explains why Romney has been sounding like a conservative's conservative recently.

This is a not-so-subtle jab at the man about to become the party’s standard bearer. Santorum consistently would say on the campaign trail that in 2008, Romney convinced him of his conservative bona fides before he backed him and then Romney quickly changed his tune.

Yep, Rick gets it. Now we will see if Rick is just looking for the highest payoff such as a 'binding' slot as Romney's VP. But I would not trust anything Romney says but would trust Newt.

[Yaelle]

Good for him. Like any conservative, he wants to defeat Obama and isn’t keen on Romney. And what is the point of endorsing Gingrich, who will not be nominee unless Romney is found with a dead girl or live boy? He says all that between the lines.

[Hostage]

I don’t remember Newt’s people saying anything negative trash about Santorum. Can you give some examples?

I do clearly remember Newt calling Romney out for what he truly is, a Liar, a deliberate Liar.

I am a Newt supporter but at this point if Santorum were still in the race and headed for the nomination I would back Santorum against Romney and Obama. Now I am praying that Rick endorses Newt and that Newt gets to a brokered convention.

But I was disturbed by Rick’s rush to judgement on George Zimmerman. It seemed like pandering and not presidential behavior at all. What did you think of that?

[Mangia E Statti Zitto]

I remember Newt after South Carolina saying something about it being time for the conservatives to unite against Romney. I think Santorum was very offended by that.

[McGruff]

Santorum has had plenty of time to do the right thing. Since he hasn't yet means he probably won't. We all know who he endorsed in 2008.

[Hostage]

If Newt gets to a brokered convention he will get a fair shot at winning over the delegates without Romney's negative trash ads or Romney's bribes or without democrats crossing over to vote in the GOP primaries.

And I did not see anything between the lines other than perhaps Rick had better be offered the VP slot and even that is not a guarantee that Romney will follow through on a conservative platform.

Here's what was printed:

“But we’ll be talking to both of them and we are going to go out and deal with who we believe is in the best interest of our country and winning this election and make sure that we have a conservative platform, conservative message and they follow through with that message after the election.”

[eak3]

If Santorum is the conservative he says he is, it should be a no-brainer for him to endorse Newt.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[rightly_dividing]

There is only one candidate to turn America around and that is Newt.

[Leep]

Aside from Romney being a sleezoid oRomney is also not extremely popular.
Otherwise, maybe Santorum is considering there may be a brokered convention?

PALIN PALIN PALIN! USA USA USA!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

If Santorum is the conservative he says he is, it should be a no-brainer for him to endorse Newt.

That's my thinking.

[Theodore R.]

I’m sure he is waiting for a time of maximum exposure to endorse Romney. He won’t endorse Newt on a Tuesday, then have to back Romney two days later. Newt is essentially out of the running too.

[darrellmaurina]

The non-endorsement is good news in a week of bad news.

I really, really wanted to listen to that conference call, but with a city council meeting Monday night at which the impeachment of our mayor was on the agenda, there's just no way I could do that.

Let's hope Santorum decides to hold off on an endorsement until/unless Romney reaches the magic number to get a majority of delegates. I can't expect him to reject the Republican nominee unless he's prepared to leave the Republican Party, which is extremely unlikely — only people like Mitt Romney's father can do that in 1964 with Goldwater and get away with it — but we can ask him not to endorse Romney now.

[KeyLargo]

Herman Cain on Gingrich: ‘I don’t know what’s going on in his head’ [VIDEO]

By Michelle Fields — The Daily Caller 11:15 PM 04/16/2012

Former presidential candidate Herman Cain told The Daily Caller that he doesn’t know why former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is still in the Republican presidential race and doesn’t “know what’s going on in his head.”

“Everybody knows that Speaker Gingrich is not going to get the nomination, probably,” Cain explained. “It would have to take an absolute long-shot mix-up of everything that would happen at the convention. I don’t know what’s going on in his head, so I can’t comment.” (RELATED: Full coverage of the Gingrich campaign)

“I know that when I had to make the decision to drop out of the race, it was more difficult than making the decision to get in the race,” he continued.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/16/herman-cain-on-gingrich-i-dont-know-whats-going-on-in-his-head-video/#ixzz1sItyiPJr

[onyx]

BTTT I could add a whole more.

Santorum was the luckiest recipient imaginable of Romney's attacks ads on Newt, until those type of devastating ads were ready to run against him in his own state.

This whole primary has been about stopping Newt Gingrich, yet he remains in the race, although, it was first about stopping Sarah Palin from entering. Anyone "Going Rogue" against the GOP-E not wanted.

[upchuck]

"... who we believe is in the best interest of our country and winning this election and make sure that we have a conservative platform, conservative message and they follow through with that conservative message after the election."

Well then obviously he won't endorse Myth.

[RitaOK]

Should Rick decline to support Myth it will be a FIRST where he didn’t fall in line, on que, with the liberal GOP Establishment against a conservative.

Besides, Rick first came to the stage under Speaker Gingrich as a result of efforts to spear head a real recruiting effort. Then he weasels in for the coux de grace.

I believe we all know what Rick will do. What he’s always done. Climb for a job.

[RitaOK]

Should Rick decline to support Myth it will be a FIRST where he didn’t fall in line, on que, with the liberal GOP Establishment against a conservative.

Besides, Rick first came to the stage under Speaker Gingrich as a result of efforts to spear head a real recruiting effort. Then he weasels in for the coux de grace.

I believe we all know what Rick will do. What he’s always done. Climb for a job.

[DBeers]

...Santorum also made it clear he won’t be releasing his delegates to whomever he backs, saying he wants to “make sure” the delegates “go to the convention and have a say,” to influence the platform of the party and have an “impact on the convention process” making sure both the platform and convention “reflects the things our campaign stands for...”

[mosesdapoet]

On April 24th 2012
If Santorum is on your primary ballot
Vote for the man and his delegates who fought it
Not for the man who brought it
OBMACARE is a 1.76 Trillion $ Hydra
A 9 headed Serpent whose heads must be decapitated all at once with a Firebrand otherwise they grow back and devour everything in sight
by L.J .Keslin / http://www.theusmat.com
Note this article will print out on 1 page at 60% setting
While the ex governor of the only state with mandatory state run health insurance (which is in trouble ) was busy buying up state primary elections Of the three GOP candidates remaining opposing him only one man, Sen Rick Santorum, had the courage to take on a what they call a third rail issue...Eugenics...one of the heads on that 9 headed snake called obamacare.. and Santorum had his character asassinated for it... Rick has been pummeled from both sides Called , a women hater ,, a religious nut, and ..a one trick pony. Santorum spends an hour discussing oil and the economy then 10 seconds comenting about pornography but guess what MSM and Santorum detractors will talk about... certainly not ,what’s really in the 1.76 trillion dolllar wonder called Obamacare ,,...!; Population control,.Death panels., Private presidential armys..requiring US to pay for birth control pills and abortions and all that goes in those 2400 pages of rules, laws,and regulations and with it. cost, 1.76 trillion and rising ..

To pay off a 16 trillion dollar national debt at $16.00 a second would take 31,668 years*. .. Not including interest.There is no way to “fix” Obamacare..Part of that debt is a 1.7 trillion dollar secret Xmas eve gift that was delivered in March 09 that must be returned by someone determined to do so not just exchanged .I’ts doubtfull the man in the Etch a Sketch suit will do it. Mitt has yet to explain how his “Romneycare “is working” A trillion seconds of time =31668 years

Two groups late in the last century led in Eugenic development. The Nazis and the Communists. Few know or remember how the Nazis began. First citing “health risk” “nicht rauchen” baning cigarette smoking, Then terminating Down Syndrome children, and then on to mentally defective children and adults,. then on to besides murdering opponents, races. All done to make the German Reich healthy and last a thousand years

. So you go to the MSM (Main Stream Media) the so called “gate keepers” for information about these things and you find closed gates .. The sorcerers in the media magically reduce a 2000 page Hydra , a Greek legendary nine headed venomous serpent that must be slain by a firebrand ,and morph it into the mourning after pill and a “womans health care issue.”

The “gatekeepers” never tell you that Obamacare bill creators and the Amish are exempt from being in Obamacare. The drafters are on record actually calling it population control and demanding Catholic bishops support it.* Their statements are out there .But not mentioned by the so called gate-keepers but by the AM the alternate media, meaning radio talk shows like Limbaugh’s and websites like Britebart’s Government . Places Obama wants to shut down and will once re-elected *Joel Pollak Britebart Government .

When Santorum talks about freedom he warns women surrender their rights when they buy into this monstrosity . That is what’s in Obamacare which is deceptively titled “The Affordable Health Care Act” .Yet Obamacom tzars who hail from that foreign land, the deep swamp of Acadamica are all preaching the utopian wonders of Eugenics. Why it’s the final solution (remember him ?) population control. Which is part of the Obamacare package.

Fortunately Santorum has not shyed away from this issue miss characterized as only a social issued. It is both a social and financial issue $ 1.75 trillion is in no way a minor expenditure. One of this hydra heads Population control affects US from the cradle to the grave. .but Santorum can not speakout and act against this despicable movement ? Particularly when that is being shoved on religious groups by the Demo-Coms . Especially when they are ignoring constitutional rights...

Private job creation projects rejected by the socialists controlling new demo-com party should send a signal to the Republican bleeding heart establishment . “Bi-partisanship” doesn’t exist with the socialists who have taken over the democrat party and to the GOP leading presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Mr Romney should start realizing Obama is a “socialist”.. Everyone including the monthly liberal magazine Newsweek knows he is but Mr Romney just can’t seem to get around to saying it . Preventing an iron mine in Wisconsin for a desperate area in need of jobs or preventing the Keystone pipeline transfering oil from Canada to American refineries decisions which would have provided employment to thousands and reduced gas prices. was not on the new demo-com agenda.which has taken over. Common good is not their concern but their welfare is.. not ours .
Thank You

from http://www.theusmat.com/
Original Will print out on 1 page if reduced to 60%

[RitaOK]

You did a very good job on your post. A lot of work.

Thanks.

[mosesdapoet]

I did the same for Reagan when Illinois was my home state

[publius321]

“The non-endorsement is good news in a week of bad news.
I really, really wanted to listen to that conference call, but with a city council meeting Monday night at which the impeachment of our mayor was on the agenda, there’s just no way I could do that.

Let’s hope Santorum decides to hold off on an endorsement until/unless Romney reaches the magic number to get a majority of delegates. I can’t expect him to reject the Republican nominee unless he’s prepared to leave the Republican Party, which is extremely unlikely — only people like Mitt Romney’s father can do that in 1964 with Goldwater and get away with it — but we can ask him not to endorse Romney now.”

If Santorum endorses Romney -before- the nomination, it would be a repeat of the Specter over Toomey endorsement and he would be -finished- with conservatives. That would end it all.

The fact that Etch a Sketch’s campaign is trying to court Santorum for an endorsement demonstrates that there is concern as to whether Romney will reach 1144.

[katiedidit1]

Didn’t Rick say the same thing about Spector?

[JacquelineD]

If Romney wins, there is no 2016 for Santorum. He knows that. He has one agenda only, and that is his self-advancement. Consider this... In 2008, 30M conservatives FAILED TO VOTE. Obama won by 10M. One could say conservatives put Obama in office. Santorum would love a repeat. His eye is on 2016, not the good of this country.

[WPaCon]

But I thought Santorum was a Romney man!!

What happened?!?!

[Guenevere]

Absolutely!!!Good for him!...Santorum is pressing on toward the goal.!!!!!!!-

This is not over :)

[caww]

Translation...Santorum....”As far as going with a particular presidential candidate right now — I mean — had a chance to talk to Newt, I haven’t had a chance yet to talk to Gov. Romney,” ..Santorum said on a conference call. ...“But we’ll be talking to both of them and we are going to go out and ‘deal’....and who can pay my going price to support them for my politcal and financial advantage, .....I’m not giving my delegates away without getting something in return....I didn’t win... but I hold the cards that determines this election.”

[Yaelle]

I consider that very honest from Rick. We know and he knows that Romney will SAY anything but certainly won’t govern from the right. Don’t endorse, Rick.

Hey, I’d be thrilled if somehow everything turned to Newt at the convention and Newt wasn’t even my 5th choice, but he beats these 2.

[BillyBoy]

Slight correction:

=====================================================

Newt Gingrich/Mitt Romney/Ron Paul supporters: “Rick Santorum is a dirty rotten piece of rat feces who should be endorsing my candidate!”

How can we resist such sweet talk?

Rick is still on the ballots and even if he isn't campaigning any votes for him still count towards delegates and he knows that if he is going to primary President Mitt out of office in 2016 he needs to know the final extent of his support now.

He will endorse anybody but Obama when the time comes.

=====================================================

I know a Paulbot who keeps calling him "Rick Satan", with statements like "Rick Satan is a Catholic-in-name-only who loves war and killing innocent people"... then whines that he and his supporters should be endorsing Ron Paul so we'll have enough votes to "stop Romney"

All three camps seem to think endlessly insulting Rick Santorum and his supporters will somehow get team Santorum to rally behind their guy in the upcoming primaies. Odd tactics.

[Sun]

“If you have money to donate to campaigns I recommend giving it to Conservative House and Senate candidates.”

Finally, someone with common sense.

We will end up with a “moderate” Republican, or a communist, who will be even worse in his 2nd term, so more than ever, we need STRONG CONSERVATIVES in the House and Senate.