Posted on 01/17/2012 8:42:14 PM PST by VinL
— Newt Gingrich says he thinks Sarah Palin’s remarks on Fox News that she would vote for him in Saturday’s primary if she lived in South Carolina may just be what puts him over the top.
That’s what he told Todd Palin, the former vice presidential nominee’s husband, who outright endorsed him ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Continue Reading Text Size
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“We’re thrilled — I just talked to Todd and we’re just thrilled,” he told POLITICO as he headed into his hotel here for the night. “It’s a signal to every conservative that the one conservative vote that’s effective is to Newt Gingrich and that’s very helpful.”
Gingrich’s campaign immediately cut a YouTube video of the Palin remarks and tweeted it out to supporters.
Palin, Gingrich said, is part of a rush of support he believes will power him to victory on Saturday — and from there, into the candidate who will beat Mitt Romney to the GOP nomiantion.
“Lots of different things are working together to help us,” Gingrich said.
But Chip Saltsman, former campaign manager to Mike Huckabee, cautioned that with the election in only a few days and the support likely stopping with her remarks on Hannity, the news may have come too late to make a difference.
“For it to make an impact she needs to come to support him,” Saltsman said. “Is it a game changer where it turns everything around? My thoughts are probably not.”
In an appearance on Fox News, Palin stopped short of endorsing Gingrich. But she didn’t leave any doubt where her preference was.
“I would vote for Newt and I would want it to continue,” she said of the campaign. “More debates, more vetting of candidates.”
Palin is a well-known figure in the conservative movement and her endorsement has been considered one of the biggest gets in this year’s campaign cycle. She used her support strategically in 2008, weighing in on midterm elections that in turn produced large fundraising prowess and surprise primary victories.
Gingrich has been traveling the Palmetto State trying to make the argument that despite disappointing finishes in New Hampshire and Iowa, he is the best candidate for conservatives to rally around.
Without a victory on Saturday, Gingrich could see his campaign come to an imminent end. He’s called the state a “must win” and said it would be “very hard” to keep going after another defeat.
Palin said she was among the many Republicans impressed by Gingrich’s debate performance Monday night.
“I do think that Newt is the one that won the debate if you will, because Newt came out like South Carolina’s own Smokin’ Joe Frazier,” she said on Hannity. “He came out there swinging, talking about work, talking about jobs and work ethic and how government needs to get out of the way in order for all Americans to have a sense of opportunity to work, and I think that’s what a lot of voters have been craving to hear.”
Looking over at NRO, I think I see that the “Establishment” is doing its dead-level best to discourage funding for Newt’s campaign. In going after Bain, he stepped on a lot of partners in the New World Order proclaimed by Bush 41 and opposed by Perot. Whatever Perot’s motivation. he seems to have grasped the implications of a Globalism dominated by an international elite unhindered by Soviet Communism.
I surely hope you rethink what you're saying, because it doesn't stand up to the same line of scrutiny with your own candidate.
I find Santorum perfectly fine if he wins, likewise Perry. Right now, you maybe want to rethink your line of reasoning for who you will or will not forgive in this race. Right now Romney is the common enemy, and the eventual one that needs to be defeated is the Marxist in the White hut.
I disagree with you analysis that this helps Santorum. I, frankly, find it baffling.
You see, sir, I believe that Santorum can win this thing.
Rush wasn’t in the tank for Romney. It’s that people plain don’t know how to listen.
I’ve already agreed to back Newt should he win in SC, but not before.
I’m going to support Santorum until then and fight for him, like you are fighting for Newt.
If Newt falls short - all bets are off.
What about her?
She’s already endorsed Romney. Did you miss that?
Politics is making the strangest bedfellows I can remember in 2012.
One step at a time: drown Mittens.
Once we do that, we get behind whoever’s left standing to drown zero. It’s simple. We can bitch about our winning candidate AFTER zero is out.
Maddy,
Rush is in the tank for Romney-— all else is palaver to keep his audience. Rush has a crush on Romney, because Romney has made so much money... Rush LOVES people who make money!
Sarah helps Santorum by keeping the race open, and from preventing Romney from clinching SC and ending the proces, like in 2008 when n the process was called in the first week of February.Therefore, your boy gets a chance to fight again on another field.
You see, sir, I believe that Santorum can win this thing.
You see, Obiwan, I find that quite baffling. But to each his own.
I think that Sarah knows a few things we don’t know about. Looking at Mitt last night, I was alarmed by what I saw, a lack of star-quality. This guy is no Wendell Wilkie.
If they seem to be helping my side, I won’t throw rocks at them!
Rita,
As against Romney, I would respectfully disagree. Sarah can still rally the Tea Party like no one else- and that’s what Newt needs right now.
Ilike Rick.but honestly, he acts like he is running for VP.
I wish Sarah would step forward. But there’s a problem. It would mean she breaks with McCain, whom she stood by in BOTH of HIS campaigns.
See, McCain has endorsed Romney. Todd Palin has endorsed Gingrich and Sarah said she’d vote for Gingrich IF she lived in SC. If she came out and directly endorsed Gingrich, that would mean a break with McCain. Any favors Sarah _might_ have had coming from McCain would not be done.
I have no proof, but I suspect she wants to take McCain’s Senate seat—if he ever retires—and is trying to stay on his good side. I think she’ll be disappointed if she waits for an endorsement from McCain. No one would confuse Sarah with Mitt and he’s already come down for Mitt ideologically.
Mary,
With respect, I think he is. Romney is a money man- Rush loves money men probably more than his wife. _:)
Yeah, I thought so. If I didn’t believe that Santorum could win, then I wouldn’t be supporting him. Why bother?
You’re assuming that he can’t. If I already knew he couldn’t win, then I’d be supporting someone else or sitting out watching the spectacle.
Well, last I checked Newt hasn’t won squat. So yes, I’m going to fight for Santorum because I sincerely believe him to be the better candidate.
That’s a good theory. The other I heard was that he’s trying to angle for a Senate seat from Texas.
...Which is weird because he bounced Kay Bailey Hutchison from being the Governor. I’m sure that if each wanted the other’s job, they could have made an agreement for one to endorse the other for the gig.
Wasn’t he awful!!! He such a mannequin. He’s sitting on a lead, and spouting platitudes. It might get him the nomination, but he’ll never get my vote.
I’m not assuming he can’t win.
I know he can’t win.
But you are a true believer, and I get that. No problem.
But please stop taking shots at everyone else’s candidate, and then complaining when you receive incoming fire on yours.
It is very unbefitting a Jedi knight.
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