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Subscribe to RSSBALTIMORE, MD -- The second-ranking House Republican suggested Friday he could step into the presidential race and make an endorsement before a nominee is decided.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA), during a briefing at the House GOP's retreat this weekend in Baltimore, said that he prefers a speedy conclusion to the presidential primary.
"The more we can coalesce around a single nominee the more straightforward the choice will be for the for American people," Cantor said. "I dont know if i'll endorse before it's over. I'm leaving the option open."
Like House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Cantor has remained officially neutral throughout the primary process. Mitt Romney has collected a number of endorsements, though, from high-profile Republicans on Capitol Hill. Newt Gingrich has also won some support, namely from fellow Georgians and a few lawmakers who had served on Capitol Hill during his speakership.
House GOP Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling had previously been the highest-ranking member of the Republican leadership to make an endorsement; Hensarling backed a fellow Texan, Gov. Rick Perry. (Perry ended his campaign this week.)
Cantor suggested that the GOP might be anxious to coordinate its message more closely with a nominee once the race has been decided.
"Ed Gillespie told our conference that the House should be in close coordination with the nominee one that has been decided," referring to the GOP powerbroker, Gillespie, a cofounder of American Crossroads.
Cantor also noted, though, that he hadn't spoken to Romney in "a while."
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I do not see a heck of a lot of difference between John Boehner, Eric Cantor and that Italian Cruise ship Captain that abondoned ship while people were drowning and dying. History will show that while this country was suffering through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression that Boehner and Cantor abandoned ship for political gain and did not lift a finger to help. So to me, his endorsement is worthless just like he is......PERIOD!
Wait a minute Rick, the Italian captain didn't abandon ship! He fell into the lifeboat remember? That's what Cantor is thinks he's doing. Remember all the nights that you could watch Newt talking on the house floor except if you weren't a regular viewer of CSPAN, you would have been under the misguided impression that there were people in the house listening. He's waiting to see which one will come out on top (fall into the lifeboat).
Now I understand why Obama was elected
And of course the nominee should stay in close contact with the reps in congress...so that they can stall even more trying to make Obama look bad while showing what a wonderful president THEIR candidate would make.
Who cares what this little weasel thinks?
At this point, even if God himself endorsed one of the idiot Republican candidates, it wouldn't make any difference. Republicans can take a quote from the old comic strip Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and he is us!"
Who cares about this loser? His political carreer is over anyway come November. In two years he has done more damage to the Economy of the US than any one house republican or democrate in US history. This guy is horse poop. Worse.
Our country is healing, and we’re heading upward from the very deep and very wide hole the Bush Administration dug for us... it's been a slow recovery, and we're not quite there yet, but we're heading in the right direction!
Obama is working for the middle class, he's on the side of hard working Americans and those less fortunate... we need a second Obama term to ensure our country is on solid footing. We need the Affordable Health Care Law which will enable every American an opportunity to acquire affordable health care... by the way which should be a right not a privilege; we need a large infrastructure plan which will put millions back to work; we need fair tax policy, tax breaks for folks making less than $250,000 and slightly higher taxes for those making a million+; and, we need to preserve Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, however some adjustments should be made, i.e. means testing and gradually increasing the eligibility age.
Obama stands for the above and with Dems’ out there campaigning and voting we can take back the house and increase our numbers in the Senate... then we'll see real change in this country.
On the other hand... if the GOP take over the white house be prepared to see the Affordable Health Care law be repealed, and we'll be once again at the mercy of big insurance companies; be prepared to watch Medicare and Social Security privatized; and, be prepared to see the tax rate for our dwindling middle class increase while the tax rate for the top two percent decrease...
Under a GOP led administration the middle class and our seniors will lose their safety net, they'll have higher taxes and the rest of the dwindling middle class will be reduced to accepting minimum wage jobs... and the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer!
THINK TWICE BEFOR YOU PLACE YOU VOTE... do you want a GOP at the helm driving in reverse, or, do we NEED President Obama to continue navigating the ship back to prosperity for ALL Americans? I for one am voting for Obama!
Obama/Biden are for the 99% -- The GOP are for the 1%
Donna
Donna- Great post!
My point is and always has been...
There are two clear choices in this election:
I can vote for the incumbent, under whom things have gradually (maybe too gradually) getting better.
I can vote for another Republican. A Repuiblican president, backed by a a Republican Congress, caused this recession. But I should believe them this time, they are really gonna fix things this time. Riiiiight! Just like the last time!
No, thank you. I don't trust the damned Republicans. I voted for Bush the first time, voted against Bush the second time and it will be a cold day in hell that I vote for another Republican in the future!
EEngineer - Glad to see you put in writing how you feel! Now keep on sending ALL of your money to Washington to help PAY for all of the President's and Democrats WASTEFUL Spending.
I am counting on you now. Send all of your money NOW.
Mr. Cantor (and Mr. Boehner) should NOT be endorsing any candidate at this point. Mr. Cantor's comment that there needs to be a decision made quickly so that Americans can coalesce around one candidate almost sounds as if he wants to subvert the full primary process. Last I checked, it was the American voters who make decisions about their choice for a candidate - it is inappropriate for him to back a candidate when there are still many primaries yet to go (with the SC primary completed, there is still something on the order of 96% of primary votes for a Republican candidate yet to be made - the big voting states, such as Florida, Texas, and New York, as well as many other smaller primary vote states, yet to be heard). And before anyone makes a comment about 'the Democrats did this last time' - I think it applies to both parties. Let people's voices be heard (not that I personally want to see any of the current crop of Republican candidates run for president :) ).
Seems to me that Cantor is angling for a job in the administration of the person he would endorse. After all, things things arent going swimmingly back in his district! When FEMA was running out of money, Cantor insisted that an increase to FEMA's budget MUST be offset by cuts elsewhere! The GOP LOVED it!
Then the earthquake hit his district. THEN the hurricane cause destructive flooding in his district. And FEMA didnt have the money so they had to prioritize. So, when his district submitted its application for aid for these twin disasters, FEMA DENIED IT!!! He's been ANGRILY demanding aid from FEMA but it's a NO GO!!!
So, Cantor is being rather routinely heckled at his town hall meetings in the district. He is SURELY not happy about that. His constituents are SURELY not happy with HIM!!! Could he be one of the "important" Republican Congresscritters who's defeated in November??? Only time will tell, but his approval rating is under 40%. How ironic!! Or, what goes around, comes around! Hence the endorsement hints because poor Eric may well need a job come next January! Problem is, whoever he endorses is probably also slated to lose!! Oh, the agony of defeat!
Speaker of the house, third in line for President but this position couldn,t be to important. The Dems had Pepsi who couldn' find her way home and now the Repb have Bonehead what the hell is wrong their has to be a congressman who can tie his own shoes, chew gum and walk(You get the point) I don't think any elected official gives a damn about this country only how muck graf they can earn.Folks it ain't going to get better with the Super PACS in control
When the GOP candidates were asked how they would feel about Cantors endorsement - they all responded they would appreciate "Tom Delays" more - they felt that they could at least trust Delay!
An endorsement from Eric Cantor I'll bet Newt slips back under his rock before he lets that happen.How much are you willing to pay someone to let you endorse them Eric.
Little heavy on the nasty, aren't we? We all know he's a waste of space, so why waste it on him?
Cantor's endorsement will send the voters running-in the other direction....nuff said....
I just laughed when I read the headline........as if his endorsement matters to anyone.
Kathryn Sullivan - Sure about as much as someone who would endorse Obama for a second term. A President who will not take full responsiblity for any of his failed policies and high um-employment and a record number of people on Food Stamps.
I wonder who the jokers are that voted for this fool thats trying to destroy our country? This sucker is grovers best friend I bet.
Sames ones who voted for Pelosi and Ried
Now, if the voters of northern Virginia would just get the picture that this ambitious "I'll say anything to get elected" lackey is despised maybe they won't return him to Congress. But, unfortunately, Virginia has turned into a very right wing place due to Liberty University and Regent University and a horde of preachers who use the pulpit to indoctrinate their sheep to vote Republican. There is no such thing as separation of church and state in Virginia in 2012. Jefferson would be disgusted by these people.
I agree with almost everything you wrote bhonest and fair, however Mr Cantor does not belong to Northern Virginia, he is Richmond's boy wonder. On everything else though I agree, this is the same state who wants Republican voters who show up to vote in the primarys to take a pledge to vote for whomever the Republican candidate is in the general elections. Not sure how they think they can make someone take a pledge but that is their new rule. I cannot stand this state and am headed back to the Southwest as soon as possible.
The Republican Party has lost my VOTE!!!! I will never vote for any Republican again!!
Like House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Cantor has remained officially neutral this is a joke!!!
John Boehner is the next person to be ousted from the Republican party, next would be Cantor.
Both men have destroyed the Republican Party.
Boehner has his ideas, not the PEOPLES!!!
Cantor with his plan is destroying the middle class!!!
who gives a crap what eric cantor thinks or what republican clown he endorses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can be sure that before he endorses anyone Cantor will check with Tel Aviv first for his orders.
Who cares what Cantor does? He's a weasel.
I thought a Cantor was a Jewish singer in a temple. Who is this guy and what does he want.
cantors ensorsement would be a big help. then i know who NOT to vote for. he is a vicious and exteme person
Looks like Cantor is about to lose his place in Boehners tanning tub.The little wimp may have to go back to his old habitats. This Cantor is the biggest sissified runt that I have ever seen in a Washington D C in my 82 yrs.
I am overwhelmed- eric might endorse= I can barely contain my self! bet he's talking to bibi right now.
Jesus cantor please give newt your endorsement ! please help us see the way ! and help poor Obama on his way ! ( to win )