E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Sarah Palin on Tuesday urged South Carolina voters to support Newt Gingrich in their GOP presidential primary, offering the closest thing to an endorsement the former Alaska governor may come before this weekend's contest.
“If I had to vote in South Carolina, in order to keep this thing going, I’d vote for Newt and I would want this to continue,” Palin said during a FOX News interview Tuesday night.
Her support for the former House speaker, however, was somewhat qualified. Palin said she believed it would be best for the primary campaign to continue, so as to continue to add scrutiny to candidates and forge their strength as an eventual nominee against President Obama.
“More debates, more vetting of candidates because we know the mistake made in our country four years ago was having a candidate that was not vetted, to the degree that he should have been,” Palin explained. “I want to see that taking place this time because America is on this precipice — it’s that important. We need this process to continue."
“We think its a pretty darn clear call to arms,” Gingrich campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond told NBC News shortly after Palin made these comments this evening.
The conservative vote in South Carolina remains split between Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Gov. Rick Perry going into the closing days before the Jan. 21 primary in the state.
Each has been rallying voters behind their candidacy as the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who would see as the heavy favorite to win the nomination if he were to score a victory in South Carolina.
“If you consolidate the three conservative candidates, we clearly would have a huge margin over Romney, and the challenge for me is to convince conservatives to come home and have a single candidate on Saturday,” Gingrich told a crowd in Florence, S.C. today.
Palin offered words of flattery for Gingrich beyond her support this weekend, crowning him the winner of a Monday night debate. Her husband, Todd Palin, has formally endorsed Gingrich for president.
"Newt Gingrich is a true leader, which he has proven not only since the beginning of his campaign, but throughout his career,” Todd Palin said in a written statement sent out by the Gingrich campaign on Jan. 9.
It is still unknown if either Palin will actually campaign for Speaker Gingrich on the trail.
Leave a Comment:
"...more vetting of candidates because we know the mistake made in our country four years ago was having a candidate that was not vetted..."
Too funny! The selection of the un-vetted Palin is precisely why McCain lost so terribly.
Palin - "I'd vote for Newt!" and she'd be voting for a loser at that.
I guess it's true what they say, "Birds of a feather..." lol
This doesn't surprise me one bit. One idiot voting for another. Somebody should just put a gag in her mouth and drop her in the Great White North and then go hunt for her in a helicopter.
Now that's funny. But she'd have to be dressed all in red.
Who cares what Palin says. She is worthless. Better vetting would've meant she never would've been on the ticket. She's a blow hard who loves herself. Wonder how soon her spineless hubby will grow a pair and dump her azz.
She was totally vetted and forced upon McCain. The powers in the party wanted someone on the ticket that would appeal to the far right of the party.
Love it! One crazy nutcase endorsing another.
It sure looks like neither the Tea Baggers nor the Evangelicals are going to have much of a say in selecting the GOP candidate. That is definitely good for the rest of us.
I wondered how long Sarah could stay out of the fray. Now she is looking for a way back into the political establishment by throwing her support to Gingrich. I wonder what return she is seeking on her announcement/investment if he were to move ahead in the race?
That does it, if Palin would vote for Newt......
That should put an end to his candidacy. Sarah Palin? Hope she is history.
For once I agree with Ms Sarah. 4 years ago we absolutlely dropped the ball on the vetting process. McCain should have been put under a much more powerful microscope. Thank you Sarah for finally admitting that fact
Why is this washup still making headlines?
Remember people a man named Bush. This is what the republican party has become. Ignorant whites who fight for rich whites. Have you people not had enough? Just out yesterday their leading goober Mitt Romney only pays 15 percent in income tax.
un seal your ethics records newt....or are you afraid????
and who the heck is that ugly old granny in the pic??? that cant be the lady everyone was saying was hot....she looks like some old librarian...turkey neck and all.....
Newt must be cringing at the thought of Palin swinging her support for him publicly. Afterall, we all know what she did for John McCain.
The GOP conservatives continously spout the teachings of Jesus , thump the Bible, and wave the flag ad nauseum to spell-bind the ill-informed and those still suffering from residual racism and general xenophobia..I am an "Indie" from Texas ; a fiscal conservative but a believer in social justice in the spirit of Jesus , who repeatedly preached against the selfish rich and our need to help the poor, widows , orphans, and to love our fellow beings, basic tenets of the principles of the Judaeo-Christian faith.. which they quickly abandon during their frantic quest to legally sanctify greed through the electoral system...Of the top 1% who control 90% , directly or indirectly,of all sources of income in America, 85% vote Republican, 10 % Democratic, and the remaining 5% to the predicted winner. Half of Congess are millionaires, and growing . You and I, the common people, who struggle for survival send to Wash DC those who represent the top 1 %----Crazy, and sad !
Dear Sarah,
"Thought this endorsement thingy would be a good idea, but after reading these posts, if someone asks you if we know each other, tell them no". Your check for services rendered is in the mail.
Signed
The Newtster
The only candidate "not vetted enough" four years ago was Sarah Palin herself.
^ and she knows it. so well in fact that she didn't even try to challenge Obama again.
what a cowardly harpy she is. a perfect teabag hag.
and she would lose again.
The Palin kiss of death.
Ron Paul - a true patriot of the 19th Century confederacy,
^ lol. if only there were a time machine.
ps- the confederacy stank. rivaling NAZI Germany as the worst govt. in Western history.
It figures Palin would support an ego-driven-morally tainted mentally warped opportunist like Newt Gingrich . He is the male part of her own personality..
Really!!!!!. I think she just said that the voters for years ago vetted her and Mr. Maverick, decided Obama was the lesser of two evils, and elected him. Well now that she has spoken up, Obama is almost certainly guaranteed four more years. Is there any leadership in the Republican party? Is it possible for them to make a phone call and just pay her!!! She is just looking to keep herself in the spotlight and we all know it, but the GOP has had enough trouble trying to make one of the candidates look electable, they certainlydon't need her help blowing up another election. Prediction time......If they march her out here, she weakens all of the candidates to the point that Ron Paul decides to run as a third party man and splits the conservitive vote, Obama wins, put the country gets to actually listen to Paul, so I guess, go Palin.
Who the hell cares who dingbat would vote for!
Who really cares who Sarah would vote for? I'm a republican and I believe her time is up. Time to leave the political scene and go back to her igloo in Alaska. Like other's have said, her backing a candidate is the kiss of death!
Sarah! Go sell a book!