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Updated 6:16 p.m.
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- After winning the support of former rival Rick Perry this morning, Newt Gingrich's endorsement momentum continued among members of South Carolina's political establishment as he picked up former supporters of Jon Huntsman and Perry, along with few influential GOP fundraisers.
Richard Quinn, Huntsman's top South Carolina strategist who worked for John McCain in 2008, is endorsing Gingrich along with his son Rick, a state senator who had also endorsed Huntsman. The senior Quinn had also worked as an adviser to Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign, an aspect of his resume Gingrich may soon highlight.
Mike Campbell, the son of former South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell, who also backed Huntsman, announced his support of Gingrich today. Bob McAlister, a former chief of staff to compbell who had aided the Huntsman and McCain campaigns, also backed Gingrich.
Several influential members of the South Carolina business community are also rallying behind Gingrich today including two former Huntsman backers: businessman John Rainey and Gayle Averyt, former chairman of the Colonial life insurance company. Former Tanzania ambassador Bob Royall, another bundler for Bush and McCain, also endorsed Gingrich.
Huntsman exited the race on Monday, and endorsed Mitt Romney -- not Gingrich -- in the GOP primary.
Those business leaders, as well as several of their friends and colleagues, met with Gingrich last week in an effort to coalesce around a candidate as they had done in 2000, when they rallied around George W. Bush, and 2008, when they endorsed McCain. They also considered Rick Santorum, who also spoke with the group last week.
Gingrich also nabbed a major former Perry backer, South Carolina state House Speaker Bobby Harrell, who was part of a 20-plus group of influential Republicans who endorsed Perry in late October. Another Perry supporter, South Carolina Rep. Mick Mulvaney, said today that he did not "anticipate endorsing any other candidate between now and Saturday."
While Gingrich seemed to collect up the most endorsements today, one influential Republican joined the Romney camp: David Wilkins, a former state House speaker and ambassador to Canada during George W. Bush's administration. (Wilkins' brother Billy, a prominent lawyer here, is a Gingrich supporter.)
Wilkins told NBC News today that he met Romney and his wife six years ago during a breakfast in Boston with other U.S. ambassadors.
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Okay - I can totally understand the Perry backers parking their trailers for Newt...
BUT Huntsman?
Regardless, I imagine Willard has got to be sweating right about now... lol
Plastic dont sweat
Good Point! ;o)
but, why don't nobody in SC like Mittens?....why is there this 'nobody but Mitt' push? He's Mr. Steady!...of course there is that Cayman Island thingy, but only recently. Flip and flopping shouldn't matter, when it's all about the free market....do what you gotta' do.
Mittens is afterall, Mr. Free Enterprise, Mr. Capitalism?.....Where's the establishment GOP, he's their guy!
Are they going to Mr. Gingrich because of the "anyone but Romney" movement? Or, are they hoping to see the primaries play out a little longer? And, Ideology, if you are around, what about Wilkins supporting Romney?
Phine-
The answer to your multiple choice question is....Yes...;-)
dangerfield,
How long do you think this game will play out? And can your G Men win against the 49er's in San Fran?Will the cross country trip be a factor? (Thought I would get all the questions in at once) :)
Phine, I believe he came to the realization that Romney has visited Canada and was a tad ashamed with his initial choice as possibly Perry thought we where in Turkey.
Oh great, now the possible scam blocker has me trying to decipher words that are upside down.
Ideology,
How similar do you think their political views are? And what IS Romney's view of Canada for that matter (at least for today)? (Have a cosmo, then things that are upside down look right side up)
I have placed a bet on SF thereby guaranteeing a Giants win.
Phine-
The next few days will tell a lot about that, and I don't think even the candidates could tell you right now.
Dr Paul will be in until the convention, that's a given.
The Giants are going all the way! All the way to San Francisco anyway. Obviously I think that they're going to win and I could give you a laundry list of reasons to buttress my contention, but the game will be decided on the field this Sunday, as the SC primary will be decided at the polls on Saturday...
ISTV...haha Thanks!...
dangerfield,
I will do what I did last week - hide in the bedroom with my iPod in the 4th quarter. It worked for the Giants then!
Phine, he has referred to himself as a 'summer Canadian' ... which might mean he is a summer socialist.
Dangerfield ... I like the ISTV, makes me feel like an English TV station ... pay per view of course.
Ideology,
Must admit I thought ISTV was a tv station, too, for a minute. As for the "summer Canadian", well that one just has me baffled. Wonder what would happen if someone asked HIM what it meant straight out? The answer could put one in awe - of his non-answer.
Phine, his family had a summer lodge in Ontario ... hence the dog on the roof for 12 hours.
www.thestar.com/news/article/1114630--does-mitt-romney-s-long-love-affair-with-canada-still-have-heat?bn=1
Ideology, wonder what he does there? I just don't see him as a big outdoorsy type of guy - which Ontario and its beauty represents to me.
OMG! A giant 200 page PDF book aimed at exposing Mitt Romney during the 2008 Presidential race, possibly made by the 2008 John McCain for President staff, has surfaced on the internet.
http://www.examiner.com/conspiracy-in-denver/extensive-mitt-romney-opposition-file-surfaces
The more anti-Romney the better. Romney is the only one remaining in the GOP race that could even come close to defeating Obama. So if any of the others win that will mean a bigger landslide for Obama than we would have with Romney as his opponent.
can't wait for the So Caro "lock on the nomination" hopefully comes to an end. After 4 days snowed in with the grandkids AND their Mom, we are so ready for lots of catching up on "our" programs and NO POLITICS at least for tonight and tomorrow. These Repubs are starting to eat their young and it turns the whole country off. One worry--Jeb Bush rides to the rescue in Florida.
Could it happen?? Could Newt really pull it off against the Romney machine??
Or is this just the bible thumpers effect in the south??
Whatever. I will be happy with either one of these heros. They will wipe their butts with Obama in a real debate. Obamas better squeeze in all the free vacations they can. The gravy train is stopping at the station.