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Subscribe to RSSAlice Stewart, the press secretary for the Santorum campaign, talks about the GOP candidate's strategy.
Rick Santorum met with several conservative leaders at home in Virginia, sources close to the Santorum campaign confirms to NBC News.
One of the major goals -- how to get Newt Gingrich out of the race and get his delegates to line up behind Santorum instead.
The meeting, the source said, was “called by conservative leaders to see how to get everyone to coalesce around Rick. Gingrich is a big part of that … that’s a huge part of it.”
Santorum spokeswoman Alic Stewart first confirmed the news on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports and said the goal of the meeting, called by the conservatives leaders, was stopping Mitt Romney.
"What I can say is we were approached by conservative leaders – a group of conservative leaders - who say now is the time for conservatives to rally together, get behind the right person that is going to be able to stop Mitt Romney," Stewart said. "That’s what the conservatives need to do."
The conservative leaders are trying to “find a way to stop Mitt Romney,” the source said. Santorum and Gingrich have “met a couple times,” but there’s no indication Gingrich would get out at this point or endorse.
The Gingrich campaign confirmed to NBC's Alex Moe that Santorum and Gingrich had met over the last couple of weeks, but, stressed that there is no chance Gingrich will exit the race and encourage his delegates to vote for Santorum.
Santorum "should have thought about that during the primaries," Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond told Moe, "and Newt is not dropping out and handing him our delegates."
He added, "Newt has not agreed to any alliances, and he is going to continue to move forward with his candidacy, and it is Sen. Santorum's decision alone if he wants to continue his candidacy."
There was no discussion -- or encouragement -- at the meeting today of Santorum to drop out, the source said. And talk of Santorum rethinking before Pennsylvania is silly, the source said.
“We’re going to Pennsylvania,” the source insisted. “He’s home for Easter.”
Politico first reported of a meeting with conservatives today.
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OH NO!
Do I smell the good old secret neocon heave ho happening...?
Good luck with that! lol
BTW: Who is funding Newt's
campaigntrain-wreck these days?Delusional! Both of them...Gingrich and Santorum...Gottta stock up on popcorn though..Can hardly wait for the puss fight. (Romney and Santorum).
Considering the Gingrich Group is filing for bankruptcy, i would see an opening for Santorum to readdress the issue with Newt's camp.
Unless of course Newt is considering endorsing Romney. Stranger things have happened. And will continue to happen in the race for GOP loser.
Feisty - now if they'd only get Romney out of the race! Oh that's right - Obama will in November! Enjoy the day Feisty!
Oh, no, no, no ... don't take my Newt away.
I'm telling you, people, be careful what you wish for. Once Newt and Ricky are gone, there will be NO more free sandwiches.
And ... sigh ... I'll be forced to fall back on bath mitts and flip flops for cheap, degrading, and cheesy comedy.
Oh, all right. If you insist.
Rick,
Don't be a fool. You resurrected yourself from the ash heap. Be proud of that and enjoy your Easter Sunday. On Monday announce your withdrawl from the race.
If (or more likely when) you lose your home state AGAIN it will be political death for you.
You want to put the K'bosh on old Noot? Here's what you do:
Get a big ol' heavy box, and set it down with the opening toward the ground. Prop up one side with a big stick, tied to a rope. Run the rope to behind a bush. Place a couple of dollars under the box, get behind the bush, grab hold of the rope, and wait.
The more candidates that stay in the race the better. Romney needs to get the number of delegates to be the nominee before anyone drops out, and he needs to do so against a field. This is all about the establishment trying to avoid embarrassment. Stay in Gingrich -- Santorum is starting to lose his support, so the country needs you now more than ever!
DBO -- LOL!
driveby-please lighten up on your visuals. I just blew coffee all over the screen laughing. (and that goes for some others who have been posting today)
Sounds like the conservatives aren't done just yet (and certainly not ready to just line up behind Romney).
Conservs need to deal with the reality that .....
Romney has been chosen to Lose to Obama in Nov 2012
I'm not sure which would hurt more - them realizing they're probably handing the reelection back to Obama, or them realizing their party really isn't all that conservative anymore. In fact, with Romney as the flag bearer, it's kind of a nothing, like Romney. Not really conservative, not really liberal, not really moderate. Just another entity that tries to be all things to all people, which of course makes it nothing.
"Rick Santorum met with several conservative leaders at home in Virginia"
"We're going to Pennsylvania," the source insisted. "He's home for Easter."
(Cue Perry Como) - Oh, there's no place like home(s) for the holidays......
JoAnne,
I was thinking the same exact thing. Sounding like he has a home state decalration issue ala Mittens.
Sort of reminds me of Mc Cain when he didn't know how many homes he had. At least Romney has a reference point: it's where the car elevators are located.
Go Ricky Go.
Rick, hate to say it buddy (not really), but you are a day late and a dollar short in your wish. Only way Newt will leave the field is if someone pays off all his debt.
I have an idea to pay off Gingrich's debt. Get all 3 of his wives to form a rock band. He supposedly wanted a 3 way. What's wrong with one more ? They could could do a fund raiser. I like the name of " Hell of a Losa ". The band could go by the name " Three Dog Newt ". Or get Bill Clinton and John Edwards to appear, and call it " Woodie Stock ". Since it has sexual overtones, Santorum wouldn't come. Pardon the pun. He's just getting over throwing up from Kennedy's speach about the seperation of church and state. Romney might go. He'll have to be careful how he flip flops on this one. Just on more thing to Etch and Sketch in the Fall !
I don't care how much Rick whines he's not getting the V.P. slot.
Santorum, a man with 7 or 8 kids obviously does NOT know when to pull out
He doesnt have a prayer of getting elected Pres and knows it
Once upon a time, there was a mouse who got into a fight with a tiger. The mouse was losing badly, so he looked around for any way to gain an advantage. Then the mouse spied a cockroach. "Hey, cockroach", said the mouse, "You're getting in my way! If you'd just get out of here, I could totally take this tiger down. Leave already."
The cockroach replied, "I'd love to, but I've got to stick around for the book and video sales. Seriously, my company just went bankrupt and I'm worried Tiffany's won't give me any more half million dollar loans."
Only Cecil B. Demille could get Gingrich out of this race. He would have to give him a hell of a closeup and guest privileges with the young starlets on the casting couch. Seriously, if Santorum could get Gingrich in pictures - or on a Wheaties box, then he might be able to pry that big fat ass out of the primaries. Otherwise, until the last gasp of hot wind, the Newt blows on. The megalomaniac stands squarely and largely in the way of the schizophrenic who believes he is the new Moses being led by God at every turn. Newt would like to be Moses too - if the movie was big budget with lots of scantily clad young things running through the Red Sea.
With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound,
He pulls the spitting Republican primary down.
Helpless people from Cali to Maine,
Scream, bug-eyed, as he looks in on them.
He rides in a bus and he throws lies around,
As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town.
Oooooh no, they say he’s got to go,
Go, go Newtzilla.
Oooooh no, D.C. takes a blow,
Go, go Newtzilla.
Oooooh no, they say he’s got to go,
Go, go Newtzilla.
Oooooh no, moon base gone for sho’,
Go, go Newtzilla.
History shows again and again,
How nature points up the folly of man,
Newtzilla!
History shows again and again,
How bankruptcy kicks you in the can.
Newtzilla!
History shows again and again,
How nature points up the folly of man.
Newtzilla!
History shows again and again,
How people abhor this folly of man.
Newtzilla!