Santorum should probably throw his support to Gingrich (and I say this having contributed to Santorum’s campaign, not Gingrich’s), but only if Gingrich announces Santorum as his VP at the same time.
That would instantly unify the conservative vote, and put Gingrich over Romney.
(Obviously, Perry needs to bow out.)
Then let Romney and Paul split the rest of the vote.
Nice approach but the rub is if Romney throws Paul a bone and he drops out supporting Romney we’re done no matter who does what.
Not sure if that’ll happen but it’s the worst case scenario
JB
I heard Santorum today, responding to Newt’s comment that he “would be delighted if Santorum dropped out”. Santorum wasn’t sounding like a VP for anybody, especially Newt. I think there would have to be some significant “bridge-building” for this to happen.
AFIK, it is illegal to offer a position in return for an endorsement.
I certainly agree that it's time for Perry and probably Santorum to get out and endorse Newt.
The "establishment" thinks that Mitt is unstoppable, but they don't realize that the GOP base DOES NOT want Mitt. It can happen basically the same way the leftist base coalesced around Zero over Hillary four years ago.
That would be so cool. Imagine if they did that 'immediately', it would turn the entire campaign into a new dimension. One complete 'ticket' campaigning immediately for the nomination, and... start to campaign against Obama right away! It would be 'new' and 'exciting' enough to draw attention without millions required in ad buys.
You and others who make such suggestions call for violation of federal election law. It's not gonna happen.
Perry was close to dropping out after NH, and I am certain does not want to be VP....Santorum on the other hand would probably jump at the opportunity to be VEEP. Gingrich/Santorum would actually be a formidable ticket.
“One of the criticisms I make is to what I refer to as more of a libertarianish right. You know, the left has gone so far left and the right in some respects has gone so far right that they touch each other. They come around in the circle. This whole idea of personal autonomy, well I don’t think most conservatives hold that point of view. Some do. They have this idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do, government should keep our taxes down and keep our regulations low, that we shouldn’t get involved in the bedroom, we shouldn’t get involved in cultural issues. You know, people should do whatever they want. Well, that is not how traditional conservatives view the world and I think most conservatives understand that individuals can’t go it alone. That there is no such society that I am aware of, where we’ve had radical individualism and that it succeeds as a culture.”Source: http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/rick-santorum-v-limited-government/
There are just simply way too many voters that dislike Santorum for him to be a VP choice. Its time for him to concede and look statesmanlike.