“Both Rick Santorum and James Dobson, the former deity of Focus on the Family, had endorsed Sanford’s opponent. If the religious right can’t beat Mark Sanford in a Republican primary in South Carolina, can it win anywhere?”
Frank Rich on former SC Gov. Mark Sanford’s primary run-off victory Tuesday night for his old House seat.
Rand Paul won the CPAC straw poll today for 2016 nominee. A GOP nominee Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could love.
He got 25% of the vote, and Marco Rubio got 23%.
Rick Santorum was third, and Chris Christie (who didn’t get an invitation to speak) was fourth.
There were 23 names on the ballot.
CPAC skews younger — much younger — than the typical Republican voter.
Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney met for about an hour today in Pittsburgh. Santorum didn’t follow up the meeting with an endorsement. I guess he’s going for one of those coveted morning speaking slots at the convention.
Having complained about Fox’s bias toward Mitt, Newtie is now unwelcome at Fox, where he was a paid contributor before he ran for president.
So too is Rick Santorum, who had complained in March that Fox was “shilling for Romney.” Fox also revealed that Santorum’s contract with them was only in the five, not the six, figures. They apparently did this to hurt his negotiating position with another network.
So Roger Ailes won’t be rehiring Newtie and Frothy.
What about Sarah Palin, whose contract continues through 2013? Now Ailes has upset her, saying, “Sarah Palin had no chance to be President. The one I didn’t hire was Romney. I thought he had a chance [to be President] … I hired people I thought would get ratings.”
Palin huffily responded, “I wonder if he is aware that the same thing was said about me when I ran for city council, mayor, and eventually governor. No doubt many people who are told they can’t do something will work that much harder, and they succeed.”
As for the Fox Mole, Joe Muto, his fifteen minutes continues. He’ll be on CNN on Sunday.
I watched Rick Santorum’s speech dropping out of the race. It runs about 14 minutes. He didn’t mention Mitt once, let alone endorse him.
I know the endorsement will come, but it seemed strange for him to conclude without saying that he was backing Mitt and urging his supporters to do the same.
Newtie has released a statement vowing to stay in the race till Tampa and asking Santorum’s supporters to join him.
Newt has no money and is not about to sell off Callista’s Tiffany baubles to keep going. He’ll just continue Wizard-of-Oz style as a giant talking head rather than as a functioning campaign.
Mitt has the nomination he’s been fighting for since early in his single term as Massachusetts governor. The only remaining question is whether that nomination is worth anything.
Rick Santorum announced that he has “suspended” his campaign. That’s just a technicality so he can continue raising money to pay off his debts.
As White Sox announcer Ken Harrelson would say, “He gone!”
Mittens has the nomination, the GOP has a big millstone around its neck.
With Mitt’s rise in the Pennsylvania polls and Santorum’s long Easter break off the trail fueling rumors that he was dropping out, Santorum’s campaign has released a full schedule for next week.
Further complicating matters, his severely-handicapped daughter Bella is back in the hospital.
Prayers for Bella.
Rick “Savanarola” Santorum’s lead in Pennsylvania has evaporated. Mitt’s now up by about 5.
If Frothy stubbornly stays in and loses his home state (again), he won’t be able to run in 2016. He’ll be toast. And not toast with a likeness of the Virgin Mary you can sell on eBay. Badly burned toast, charred and crispy as Savanarola himself ended up for his extremism.
So Frothy really needs to get out not just for Mitt and the GOP, but for self-preservation.
Mitt won Wisconsin, but the exit polls don’t show much love for him as a person.
Voters were asked which quality mattered most to them: Ability to defeat Obama, being a true conservative, having strong moral character, or having the right experience.
Mitt won on ability to defeat Obama and having the right experience, qualities that don’t reflect that much on him as a human being. They reflect hope for what he can do in the future and respect for his business background in the past. They are the two pragmatic categories among the four, the ones that don’t reflect likability.
Santorum lost overall by 10%, but he won on being a true conservative and having strong moral character, both of which are more about him as a person. He was 34% ahead of Mitt on character and 48% ahead of Mitt on being a conservative.
Mitt has the nomination, but it’s a very grudging and reluctant coronation that doesn’t excite the base. You know, those people who always turn out, who put up the yard signs, make the phone calls, etc.
Santorum’s toast, but really Mitt is too.
Embattled Farmers 