Posted on 03/26/2012 4:05:29 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Rick Santorum has shown he is a tireless campaigner and is the number one choice of evangelical voters. Now the former Pennsylvania senator is saying he is open to the idea of filling the nation's number two slot if his fellow GOP front-runner secures the party's nomination. In a Monday interview with CBN's David Brody, when Santorum was asked if he would consider running alongside Mitt Romney as the vice presidential nominee, he gave an affirmative reply.
"Of course," Santorum told Brody. "I mean, look. I would do in this race as I always say, this is the most important race in our country's history. I'm going to do everything I can."
"I've been working every single day," he added. "My wife and my kids, we're just battling our tail, because we know their future and all of our children's future is at stake in this election and I don't want to be the guy who has to sit with my granddaughter, 20 years from now, and tell stories about an America where people once were free. I don't want to have that conversation."
Brody pressed Santorum a little further, asking, "So you're keeping your options open?"
"I'll do whatever is necessary to help our country," responded Santorum.
But in spite or what may or may not happen between now and August, Santorum and Romney are still making their case why one is more qualified than the other to take on President Obama in November. Santorum won Louisiana's primary, while Romney claimed the Illinois primary earlier last week.
Romney still commands a significant delegate lead with 565 delegates, compared with Santorum's 256. The remaining Republican candidates, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, have 141 and 66 delegates, respectively.
Notwithstanding the actual delegate numbers, the Santorum campaign is not showing signs of slowing down in the least. Appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Santorum try to make the case that some of the delegate math was not correct.
"I don't agree with the delegate math that the Romney campaign's putting out there," Santorum said.
However, the next two months will most likely produce a clearer picture, and from the looks of things, Romney will still retain a significant advantage. The upcoming April primaries in the Northeast should favor Romney and Santorum will most likely fare better when the contest turn toward states more favorable to social conservatives such as North Carolina where a marriage amendment is on the ballot.
The former Pennsylvania senator came after Romney on Sunday in a campaign appearance in Wisconsin, calling the former Massachusetts governor the "worst Republican in the country" to take on Obama over Obamacare. Santorum's heated exchange with a New York Times reporter caused him to use profane language. He yelled, "It's bulls**t," saying the paper was distorting his words.
The next round of primaries is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, when Wisconsin, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., voters go to the polls.
There won’t be a Romney/Santorum ticket because Saint Rick has nearly self-destructed. He could have been a real contender if he had just said a few platitudes, smiled, waved, and kept his mouth shut. He seemed determined to talk himself out of being a real contender. This is particulary disheartening to me.
Romney would never offer it to Gingrich.
Santorum is much more likely.
I bet Romney picks Rubio if he wins...or someone like that. And despite what Rubios is saying now, if it comes down to it, and it is needed for the country and to defeat Obama, IMHO, he’ll take the job.
I’m not on that badnwagon. I believe this has been verified...and Santorum will keep fighting...I was just disappointed to see this is all.
whatever is necessary ?? like what? public speaking training, debate prep, research your own crappy voting record, talk about what the voter wants like jobs and tax cuts, shut your piehole on how great big govt is and how your a stud for doing earmarks etc etc etc...
I doubt he’s ready to be Mitt’s VP. The way the press has been spinning everything Santorum says, there is no telling what he actually said.
Another lie for Santorum?
Polling shows Santorum will never get more than 57% of Newt voters. If Romney gets 4 or 5 of 10 Newt voters, it accelerates him to victory. In some cases that extra bump for Romney would put him over 50% potentially letting him capture an entire state delegation. Santorum can only be helped by Newt's exit if he can get within 2% of Romney right now with all candidates in and can pull 6 of 10 Newt supporters over. The math doesn't work otherwise.
It is false and malicious to suggest Newt staying in helps Romney.
We already discussed this, at length, earlier in the thread.
He is fighting Ron Paul for last place—and scrounging for excuses to explain why Newt has been a miserable loser is sad—gots no one to blame but hisself.
All Newt and his supporters have right now is Santorum bashing cuz they want Mitt.
‘if his fellow GOP front-runner secures the party’s nomination...’
Is this a correct quote? Even if it is not the exact quote, we now hear from the horse’s mouth that he will consider being the VP for whoever GOP candidate getting the nomination. Don’t we all, including Santorum, expect Romney to be the nominee? At this time, Santorum knows Romney will most likely be the nominee, so he is in effect saying he will consider the VP slot if Romney the nominee asks him.
So there you have it - Santorum, all along, has been vying for the VP slot for Romney, the Romney that he endorsed in 2008 as the conservative, the Romney that he now in 2012 accuses of being NOT conservative, the Romney whose stance on abortion is in stark contrast to his own views on abortion, the Romney whose romneycare is the origin of obamacare, the healthcare bill Santorum vehemently opposes!
If he is the second man to Romney, how will he make Romney repeal obamacare if Romney does not want to? or will he be ‘one for the team’ - let Romney keep obamacare?
How will he oppose pro-abortion policies that Romney likely will push? Will he be ‘one for the team’ again and let innocent babies be killed in the wombs, acting totally against his utmost conviction in preserving lives no matter what?
Huuuuum, he certainly will be confronted with horrible dilemas!
We suppose in the end he will always be ‘one for the team’, never mind his fever pitches during the campaign!!
Gingrich said that he would support the nominee to defeat obama. I dont’ think he has ever hinted/said he would consider being VP to anyone. Gingrich acts out of his love for the country. What is the driving force behind Santorum’s pres run?
Santorum’s vague answer to the question: he will do ‘Whatever Necessary’ to Help Country, is almost like obama’s 2008 slogan ‘yes we can’!
Help country? In what way? Compromise every step of the way to keep the big unions and liberals happy? Help the politicians bring as much ear-marks to their home states as possible? Help the GOP E to tighten their reigns on us? Help to tax us to oblivion to fulfill his desires for compassionate big gov?
I will vote for the nominee in the gen election in order to defeat our biggest domestic enemy obozo. Wish I can vote for the man who truly loves the country, who has a record of observing the conservative principles. Unfortunately the herd voters appear to prefer an ‘image’ they have created for themselves based on the candidate’s fevered campaign pitches, just like in 2008 when they fell for the ‘messiah’.......
but before then, I still need to ask questions......
Can’t he say: I am here to win. I am not thinking of the second man position at this time. Ask me again when there is a nominee and it is not me.
Gingrich also said he would take the VP slot, if offered.
... when pigs fly
Thanks for injecting some sanity into the discussion, even though it will be unappreciated by some.
Pretty much sums it up.
Not a chance!
Santorum might as well say “Vote for Romney!”
Sorry Santorum supporters, but if he’s willing to be on Romney’s ticket, Santorum is not pro-life like he claims to be.
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