150 Social Conservative Activists Settle on Supporting Santorum In Stop Romney Move
Seeing the likely nomination of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 150 conservative activists gathered in Texas have decided to give their support to former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum in an effort to halt what now seems to be in the political cards: the splitting of social conservatives’ votes among several candidates which would allow Romney to sail his way to victories in South Carolina, Florida and at the convention. The Hill reports:
A group of conservative activists decided Saturday to throw its support behind Rick Santorum in the battle for the Republican presidential nomination.
Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council and a spokesman for the group of 150 activists, said that a “strong consensus” emerged for the former Pennsylvania senator after a three-ballot process.
Perkins said that Santorum got more than two-thirds support from the activists in the final ballot, in which he faced off against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas also received considerable support from the group, Perkins added.
“I think it was vigorous discussion of who they felt best represented the conservative movement and who they think had the best chance of succeeding,” said Perkins, adding that he was surprised that the group was able to coalesce around one candidate.
The activists had gathered in Texas this weekend to discuss the GOP primary race, a week before South Carolina voters go to the polls in their primary.
In the end, Perkins suggested that the desire to defeat President Obama had helped push the group toward a decision.
He reiterated that the meeting was not meant to “bash” Mitt Romney, the front-runner for the nomination who is viewed with skepticism within some conservative circles.
That’s essentially spin: the whole point of this decision is to stop Romney, a moderate Republican in his former incarnation who has produced so many flip flops that he could supply Walmart shoe departments worldwide.
And Perkins also noted that supporters of other candidates, especially Gingrich or Perry, should not necessarily be expected to switch their support in light of the activists’ decision.
But if supporters of other candidates don’t rally behind Santorum it’ll be a repeat of 2008 which opened a door for Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Most likely prospect: it is too little too late and barring some major development Romney will be the nominee. Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry won’t be suspending their campaigns so the anti-Romney vote will be split between them and Rep. Ron Paul. If you do — or a first grader does — the math, who’s likely to come out the winner given the split votes?
Photo via Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com
UPDATE: Andrew Sullivan has an interesting take on this development:
The big surprise for me in this is Ron Paul’s remarkable strength in South Carolina. My gut tells me it’s driven by military types, who share the view of many active duty soldiers that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were idiotic. But the evangelical machers’ embrace of Santorum could now help Romney. If it halts Santorum’s slide, it may also halt Gingrich’s and Paul’s rise, allowing Romney to claim a bigger victory.
I have a feeling – just that – that if Romney doesn’t win this state, the whole thing blows open again.
If I was in Vegas now I’d feel very confident about placing a bet on Romney, particularly in light of how the Bain Capital controversy caused Romney critics such as Rush (Chief Republican Strategist In Chief) Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and others to rally to his defense. It seems like the anti-Romneys seem either stuck or sagging. Plus: Romney’s organization and his $$$. I could be wrong — but if I was in Vegas now, I’d place that bet.
9 Responses to “150 Social Conservative Activists Settle on Supporting Santorum In Stop Romney Move”
Santorum is supremely unpalatable to, at minimum, a simple majority of likely general election voters (yes, that’s just my speculation but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be alone on that). They’ve just helped Barack Obama immeasurably.
Santorum is going nowhere. Social conservatives are a minority and in addition to turning off moderates he’ll inspire extra-flaming liberal hatred. The media will simply shoot hatred 24/7 at him.
I wish the social conservatives would take the proper American less-government tack than be like most liberals and want a big government in Washington but just creating what they the social conservatives want.
Romney (whom I detest) may prove the least of the GOP evils and of course the GOP is the lesser evil of the two parties. That’s no improvement for America because I believe Romney will lose to Obama just as any other GOP dud we have this election would.
Mitt Romney represents the Family Values that you say is so important. Its unfortunate that you overlook these things because of your bigotry. Santorum is a wonderful man I am sure, but he cannot win. Gingrich is too angry and stuck in the 90′s. Perry is asleep at the wheel. Your stuborness and ignorance is a sad state of affairs. A good and descent man of faith that has the best shot at restoring what has been great about our future never really had a chance at your endorsement. Having said that, you wont call this for what it is because you still want to move up and call on him after he wins the nomination. You will want access. All along we all know that he is such a good man that he will not lock you out. He is a better man than I am because you would not grace my door because of your motives are all to apparent.
Santorum isn’t even likely to become the Vice President. Typically the social conservative would be Vice President to appeal to those people and motivate them to vote, while a “moderate” (liberal) like Romney or someone else the establishment favors and wants to crown will be the nominee for the presidency. (It is most evident when it is most … blatant as in this case this year.) A social conservative is going to turn off many moderate or swing voters. I believe that Huntsman is the best choice for VP of anyone who is conservative for president and would even help Much a Mitthead (you read that from me) who is super mushy as Huntsman is. The idea is to be the super soft (even with big money) GOP ticket and steal all the regualar people who are sick of Obama’s failures. (Only those who never would vote for GOP even if God and Jesus were on the GOP ticket will not vote GOP in such a case.)
Brewhouse Jack – A Romney/Huntsman ticket is a sure loss. Like it or not, putting two Mormons on the ticket will be too much for Christian America to accept.
It all comes down to one question.
Are the right wing nuts of the republican party willing to give up alot to try and gain everything by running a candidate that will turn off moderate voters, insuring the reelection of Obama? Many moderates will not vote or will vote for Obama before they will vote for someone who wants complete control of your private lives.
These individuals are like kids who throw a tantrum when their parents agreed to buy them a single dip ice cream cone, but they wanted a douple dip and threw a fit when they could not have what they wanted. So the parents bought neither one.
So to will the Republicans gain nothing if they finally get Santorum as their nominee.
It is an interesting development, to say the least.
Evangelicals have been synonymous with the Republican ‘base’ for decades now, and they (at least this group) have basically doubled-down on social issues…something which, to put it mildly, isn’t a big issue in this race.
It is also, I think, an indication of the party’s general distaste for anything which smacks of moderation. Mitt’s weak numbers are indicative of this distaste in my opinion, and now we have confirmation.
I just wonder how many of these people realize that by digging in their heels, they’re handing the White House to Obama for another four years?
“I just wonder how many of these people realize that by digging in their heels, they’re handing the White House to Obama for another four years?”
The ones who swoon for Rick Santorum (perhaps because Cotton Mather is no longer available) aren’t capable of thinking that far into the equation.