STEUBENVILLE, OH -- Rick Santorum's campaign is calling on conservatives to pressure Newt Gingrich to abandon his bid for the White House, a senior adviser told reporters tonight.
Senior campaign strategist John Brabender said the key for the campaign going forward will be creating an opportunity to challenge Mitt Romney one-on-one, though Brabender maintained the Santorum campaign would not directly call on Gingrich to drop out of the race.
"We're never going to call on anybody to get out, but what we are calling is on Tea Party supporters and conservatives is to rally behind the only candidate that has demonstrated over and over again that he's the one who can compete against Mitt Romney," Brabender said.
"The real key right now is, can we get an opportunity to get a one-on-one shot with Mitt Romney," he said. "What we found is, Gingrich did a nice job in his home state, but I don't even think he had a second place anywhere else ... It's time for conservatives to say 'Look, we're going to rally behind one candidate, Rick Santorum."
Speaking to reporters in the high school gym where Santorum spoke just moments earlier, Brabender declared that no matter what the final result in Ohio, it already has been a bad night for Mitt Romney's campaign.
"All I know is after spending nearly $10 million here in Ohio, right now its neck and neck and it's going to be close to a tie, and somebody will win, but not by much. I don't know how they declare that anything but a disappointment," he said.



oh no msnbc, gringrech is the teller of the truth about Obama and now you know Santorium is not the one, kind of makes the hair stand up on your leg to know Obama will have to run against the strongest candidate
What I'd like to know is how can any of these candidates support any of the others once one or 2 drops out of the race. They have all bad mouthed and destroyed eachother including the GOP, it would make them sound like the bigots that they are. Just to many NUTS in the barrel and not a GOOD one to pull out of the barrel...Keep trying boys, keep making yourselves and eachother look like CLOWNS. At least you guys are keeping the latenight comedians with material for their shows. RIGHT Jay Leno, David Letterman, Craig Ferguson and the rest of the guys. Don't know anyone that doesn't like a good laugh...
Let's have Santorum drop out....He is as far to the right as Obama is to the left. Four years of Santorum and we will be in much the same pickle as we are now.
None of these candidates are worth $10,000.00...
Um, he's got more delegates then Rick.
"Please ask him to drop out, he's beating me!" Seriously! Mitt is beating you too. Why not ask him to drop out?
Little Ricky is just dreaming if he thinks he can get Newt to drop out. Remember Newt's ego is bigger than Nebraska. I was watching his victory speech in Georgia last night and thought that it was the longest victory speech I'd ever heard for someone who has failed in 16 of 19 primaries. Newt is so narcissistic he can't possibly consider dropping out. Sometime he just seems to like to stand there and pontificate, and talk to Americans like they are little children. No, he will be in it until someone finally gets a majority of delegates.
You can have my delegates when you pry them from my fat, bloated head!
How about a Gingrich/Santorum ticket--and they drop out together.
Gingrich thinks he is going to win the nomination for president of the Confederate States of America, a position not held since Jefferson Davis was defeated by the Union Army. He won't drop out now!
Well he is an 'historian'. He just doesn't understand the definition of 'history'.
BeeVee012- YOU appear to be an intelligent person, so I can't figure out is HOW in the world can you support I guy that is a walking, mumbling (I didn't say black, I said bla), "lets round up the non-believers", burn the colleges down, and keep Americans in the 1940's, or better yet, the 1840's- cause WE ALL KNOW the truth. Deep, deep down inside, The Republican party KNOWS its running out of time- old white men who hate EVERYBODY else, who have "learned" that they can't act out all the vile inter thoughts on women, minorities, and foreigner's in public like the "good old days"; have now learned the "coded" speak both inSantormium and Newtron use. YOU CAN'T SEE the truth in front of your own eyes- Either live with the NEW America- one where NOT just old white guys call all the shots, and ALL people share in the good fortune of having been born here! btw- I AM an old white got who GETS it.. Its REALLY to bad RUBIO has sunk his chance at VP- the repub's KNOW they need to bring the Hispanics into the fold quickly, otherwise they will be joining the WHIGS on the scrap heap of our political history!! Can't happen fast enough for me- Perhaps from the ashes some good will come of it...and NO, I don't think dems are much better- just at this point, the repub's are winning the "crazy train to nowhere", the dems just aren't driving AS FAST.
These are the types of discussions that make people want to vomit.
Spending, no wasting time even suggesting, what, or how, any opposing candidate does with "their" campaign is absurd and a core reason why I could never support Santorum or others with that mindset.
I believe most voters want to hear "what any candidate intends to do about issues facing the country, period.
In spite of all the media hype, I believe most voters could care less about "any social issues".
People use contraception, have abortions and homosexuals are determined to get married. 'Not new stuff.
These may "seem" important to "some voters" but certainly not to the overwhelming majority.
I believe candidates from both parties get in to these meaningless discussions for one reason; political pandering, just to "act" as if they actually care? Voters should, but obviously do not know better than to buy in to that BS. Unfortunately, many voters fall for that crap in every election, only to watch politicians do exactly "what they want" anyway after they're in office.
Obamacare is a classic example. All polls showed massive opposition to "Obamacare" yet the Democratic Congress shoved it right down everyone's throat. They "had to pass it to read what was in it" was the quote. Now, the courts will be bogged down "again wasting time" on unnecessary things.
The economy is THE ISSUE... period. That is THE issue the precedes all others. If and when they begin to straighten out our financial mess, then and only then is there any time to even begin discussing anything else.
Congress and Washington have continued to spiral farther and farther "out of financial control" for decades and generations. Since the US government is 100% broke, and worse every day... there will be ZERO funds to pay for "any" thing, from Defense to Health-care.
Santorum may be a decent guy with sincere intentions, but he's just "hanging in" and won't win the nomination.
Neither Gingrich or Paul. By whining about these things, Santorum just sounds like a fool.
Funny stuff ladies and gents,Newt won't quit til he makes Romney pay for the attacks ads. As far as DEMOCRATS voting for the NEWTSTER lol Only The Dead Ones. OBAMA-BIDEN 2012 J-MAL
With Newt ahead of Rick on delegates, there is no chance that Newt will step down, especially with several southern states coming up. So they will continue to split the vote thru March, giving Mitt an unbeatable lead. I may not like Mitt's personality (or what little of it that we can see on TV), but he is showing that he understands how the game is played, and he is playing to win ... shows more leadership than Newt or Rick ... competence matters.
if nothing else, you have to give the devil his due. if these repub guys are nothing else, their persistent. i saw gingrich win georgia (only georgia), you would have thought he was taking the oath of office for the presidency. you have to admire that kind of determination no matter who you are. however, i still think their all nuts.
rightwingNUTS 'nuf said
Please, somebody stop this campaign... My sides are aching from all the laughter... ;-)
Will not vote for any Republican and Santorum is a nutcase so as much as I do not like Gingrich I hope he says in the race to make it even more difficult for all the Republican candicates including Mr. "Slick" Romney himself who is about as trustworthy as a snake.
analysis of the 4 DOPEY DWARFS -
1 VULTURE CAPITALIST
1 RIGHTWINGNUTRELIGIONAZI KICKED TO THE CURB FOR HIS IDIOCY
1 SERIAL ADULTERER KICKED OUT FOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR
1 ANTEBELLUM RELIC
Why would any SANE person want ANY this pack of CRETINS in the oval office? It goes to show that the IQ of the "average RETHUG" must be down about 80.
To: beevee102
Re:
"I am a Rick Santorum supporter. I am for a stong president when it comes to national Defense. I am for people getting to keep more of their own money. I do not believe that what you make is the Governments money first and then you keep what they don't need. I believe that when the democrats talk about paying your fair share of taxes to the Government, they have to be living in another world. When one person has to pay more than three million dollars a year in federal income taxes to be legal in this country that is a shame."
I am for contributing 1st to God (10% tithe), next to myself (10% savings/annuities/etc.), then to charity (as able). Yes FITW & FICA comes off the top, but in my budgeting process I've proactively factored that into my overall plan so as to proactively purpose in my heart a commitment to give God His. The taxes I pay willingly and thankfully, as my contribution towards making available public services, for the common good. Services the average person can't afford to finance 100% out-of-pocket. All I ask is that my tax share be proportionately fair. Which is why I am against millionnaires and billionnaires paying a disproportionately lesser percentage. I have no problem with any one person being assessed $3 million per year, if the calculation is proportionately fair as compared to everyone else. $3 million hurts a billionaire no more financially than a couple of grands per year (in taxes) hurts me. Case in point, the multi-million dollar checks being written to buy (oops) support certain candidates. Let's keep this millionaire tax argument real. PlEEEEEEEase!! Or let us not argue (debate) it at all. There is no shame in a fair game.
so a catholic priest, a minister, a rabbi and an atheist were discussing "religious donations"
The priest said "We give 15% to the mother church and the rest is ours to use as we see fit"
the minister said "We give 10% to the national office and we use what is left"
The rabbis said "we take the money, put it on a blanket, toss it into the air, god takes what he wants and the rest is ours"
The atheist said "Huh, I'm support the causes I want with the money as I choose. What does a mythical supreme entity sky daddy have to do with it?"
Remember this - Those who have the ability to PAY MORE SHOULD PAY MORE. That's why the tax rates go up as income goes up - the trouble is that the rates need adjusted for INFLATION.
The only question to be answered, if Santorum is the GOP challenger to Obama, is: Will there still be cake after the beating? Many GOP candidates will be hurt throughout the U.S. if Santorum is the presidential candidate.
I have no idea who the next president will be. The country has done really stupid things before (Carter and G. W. Bush). However, I can't believe we would be that hurt if Newt and Santorum drop out. Newt could become president of Georgia and Rick could become a cardinal They would be happier and so would I.
Santorum has a lot of nerve. I'm no supporter of Newt, but if Obama has to lose I'd rather see Newt as POUS than either Mitt or Ricky boy. What real choice is there, Mitt the phony flip flopper, Santorum the religious fanatic or Newt, who is arguably half sane. It's sad that it has come to this. The GOP base is destroying our country, with their ludicrous candidates. Obama should beat any of these three, but if somehow he doesn't, I fear for my country.
just what we need - an amphibian president. NONE of the RETHUG candidates are worth a TINKER'S DAMM
Santoum: Hey: Who has more delegates. You are in third place. May you drop out so we have two good choices. You did lose Pennsylvania did you not? Oh well, any republican is better than the liar in the White House. Oh! socialist and all his other ugly traits.
Really, any Republican? How about Bachman, Palin or Cain? You must hate America to feel the way you do. As far as your comment regarding the 'liar' in the white house, it's absurd. The Bush white house was the home for liars. How fast we forget.
yup R - we need to remind them that SHRUB LIED AND PEOPLE DIED!
Obviously RETHUGs have extreme myopia.
Wasn't it Saint Torum that said we should do away with the separation of Church and State concept in the Constitution? Rather than allow him to continue in his narrow minded Christian march with sword held high, he should be burned at the stake on the community commons. My God says he is evil and should be cooked. Oh, maybe that is why the Law of the Land says religious fanatics should not be allowed to get control of government.
How funny! And sad. The race shouldn't be about "Romney vs Santorum", it should be about "GOP vs Obama". This is going to tear the party apart. Maybe it's about time for the GOP to reexamine it's priorities and figure out where they really stand. Together, or not.
How dare Santorum. I have news for you, OBAMA WILL SERVE YOUR HEAD ON A PLATTER. Santorum makes a bunch of dumb statements that swell his support in the primaries. Gingrich does not make these statements because he realizes, that whoever wins, will be running for President and not King of Mississippi. Out of all of the candidates Gingrich is the only one that would make this a race. Romney is swelling in populated counties that never go red in the general election. This is fuzzy logic if I ever saw it. Santorum should bow out and let Romney and Gingrich duke it out.
There's only a couple of problems that the republikan party can't seem to get around.
They're way too conservative for mainstream American voters.
The track record under Bush/Cheney cost trillions in additional debt and thousands of American lives and accomplished jack $hit.
Their candidates are just plain stupid
If they can't figure out that contraception was a disastrous issue for THEM to bring up, what can be exected of them when it comes to turning around the worst economy ever or dealing with a complicated foreign policy. All they seem to be able to do is bluster about attacking Iran or Syria - anything to prop up the military-industrial complex now that we're winding down in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A nuclear Iran? WMD in Iraq? Another unfunded war?
How many American soldiers need to be fed to THAT line of bull$@!$%#?
Pete - you rate their intelligence as high as "STUPID", eh? I might tend a bit lower for them - somewhere down in the "MORON" range - with ricky and the amphibian on the bottom of the barrel.
Perhaps the most critical measure of our economic health as a country is our debt to GDP ratio. The following numbers show how Obama's policies have failed the American public.
U.S. Total National Debt to GDP ratio:
1992 – 60% (Bush Sr. last year in office)
2000 – 60% (Clinton last year in office)
2006 – 63% (Last year of Republican Congress)
2008 – 70% (Bush Jr. last year in office)
2009 – 85% (Obama's 1st year in office)
2010 – 93% (Obama's 2nd year in office)
2011 – 102% (Obama's 3rd year in office)
2012 – 105% (estimated to exceed)
It is Obama who is spending us into the poor house. The national debt rose $3 trillion during Bush's first 6 years in office and $2 trillion in the two years after Pelosi & Reid took control of Congress (with Obama in the Senate). Obama has run up almost $5 trillion in national debt in just 3 years in office.
Here here, Pete!!!!!
A few corrections to your post.:
More Americans consider themselves conservative than moderate or liberal.
Bush/Cheney spent way too much money; Obama is spending at a rate that makes them look thrifty.
Candidates are just plain stupid please provide transcript to prove the democrats are smarter. That’s right Obama was the only one who ran for president in the last 20 years not to release them. Why?
Republicans did not bring up contraception George Stephanopoulos did.
Iraq war is winding down? Iraq's parliament speaker blamed al-Qaeda for attacks in the past week that killed at least 55 don’t you care about Iraq citizens..
Today on CNN 'Iran is not telling us everything,' U.N. atomic agency chief says
Maybe he should call on "God"not Newt....