The Republican Nomination For President: The Race For The Race For The White House

Meanwhile, you know how Romney won in Iowa with a whopping 8 votes?

Not so much:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/santorum-may-won-iowa-romney-calls-results-virtual-123742689.html



Not completely conclusive though, and evidently they're gonna call it a tie.

Perry is expected to endorse Newt Gingrich

He just announced he will be dropping out and endorsing Gingrich

What do you think this data proves?

Jan. 19, 2012
Text of Gov. Rick Perry's remarks dropping his bid for the presidency
January 19, 2012

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Below is the text of Gov. Perry's speech today.

*NOTE: Gov. Perry sometimes deviates from prepared remarks.

_________________

Thank you. As I have stated numerous times on the campaign trail, this campaign has never been about the candidates.

I ran for President because I love America, our people and our freedom.

But the mission is greater than the man.

As I have traveled across this great country: from New Hampshire to California, from Iowa to Florida, and to numerous states in between, I have discovered a tremendous purpose and resiliency in our people.

They have never lost hope despite current circumstances.

They haven't stopped believing in the promise of America or the American Dream.

Americans are down, but we can never be counted out. We are too great a people.

What is broken in America is not our people, but our politics.

And what we need is a Washington that is humbler, with a federal government that is smaller so our people can live freer.

I entered this campaign offering a unique perspective: a governor who has led a large state leading the nation in job creation, an executive leader who has implemented conservative policies, a son of tenant farmers born with little more than a good name, but who has experienced the great possibilities of freedom.

But I have never believed that the cause of conservatism is embodied by any one individual.

Our party, and the conservative philosophy, transcends any one individual.

It is a movement of ideas that are greater than any one of us, and that will live beyond our years.

As a former Air Force pilot, I know we can't lose track of the ultimate objective in carrying out our mission, and that objective is not only to defeat President Obama, but to replace him with a conservative leader who will bring about real change.

Our country is hurting with more than 13 million unemployed, nearly 50 million on food stamps and a debt of more than $15 trillion and growing.

We need bold, conservative leadership that will take on the entrenched interests and give the American People their country back.

I have always believed the mission is greater than the man.

As I have contemplated the future of this campaign, I have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path to victory for my candidacy in 2012.

Therefore, today I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president.

I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country.

We have had our differences, which campaigns inevitably bring out. And Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?

The fact is, there is forgiveness for those who seek God and I believe in the power of redemption, for it is a central tenet of my own Christian faith.

And I have no question Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement and the courage to tell the Washington interests to take a hike if it's what is best for the country.

As a Texan, I have never shied away from a good fight, especially when the cause was right.

But as someone who has always admired a great Texas forefather -- Sam Houston -- I know when it is time for a "strategic retreat."

So I will leave the trail, return home to Texas and wind down my 2012 campaign organization. And I will do so with pride knowing I gave myself fully to a cause worthy of our country.

And as I head home, I do so with the love of my life by my side, a woman who makes every day a good one when she is by my side, my wife Anita.

Thank you Anita for all you have done.

I also want to thank my son Griffin, my daughter Sydney, and my daughter-in-law Meredith for standing with us in this great effort.

With a good wife, three wonderful children, and a loving God in my life, things will be good no matter what the future holds.

I'm proud of the policies we put forward to the American people and believe they provide the right path forward for our party and our nation: overhauling Washington and returning power to state and local governments and to the people, creating energy jobs and energy security, cutting spending and eliminating unnecessary federal agencies and cutting taxes to a flat, fair 20 percent.

And I will continue to fight for these conservative reforms because the future of our country is at stake and the road we are traveling today - President Obama's road - endangers our future.

I want to thank some wonderful individuals who have stood by my side in this state: Katon Dawson, Ambassador Wilkins, and a strong and good man serving you in Congress, Mick Mulvaney.

I want to thank all my supporters from across the country, in particular Governor Bobby Jindal, Steve Forbes and Governor Sam Brownback, as well as Senator Jim Inhofe, Congresswoman Candice Miller and Congressman Sam Graves.

And I want to say a special thanks to three distinguished veterans who have joined me on the campaign trail: Medal of Honor awardee and Navy SEAL Mike Thornton, Navy Cross recipient Marcus Luttrell and Purple Heart recipient, Marine Captain Dan Moran.

I began this race with a sense of calling.

I felt led into this arena to fight for the future of this country.

I feel no different today than I did then, knowing a calling never guarantees a particular destination, but a journey that tests one's faith and character.

So now the journey leads us back to Texas, neither discouraged nor disenchanted, but instead rewarded for the experience and resolute to remain in the arena and in the service of a great nation.

Our country needs bold leadership and a real transformation.

We must rise to the occasion and elect a conservative champion to put our nation back on the right track.

And this I know, I am not done fighting for the cause of conservatism. In fact I have only begun to fight.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

That you can't figure it out for yourself tells us how ignorant you are about what politicians say.

Gingrich now leading in SC polls!

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/and_gingrich_takes_the_lead.php?ref=fpblg

I'm still hearing talking heads talking about folks who wouldn't dream of supporting Newt in the final analysis getting behind him now to push for a brokered convention. They're still waiting for someone not yet running to come in and save the day.

Not all of the polls, and I wonder what will happen with them after Nightline airs.

He's leading in the poll of polls (that is, the average of all of them).

Right, I'm curious about what effect the interview will have, too. It's not really new information -- this came out a while ago (last year maybe?) But for people who don't know Newt that well and they're mostly looking for a Romney-alternative, might still have an effect.

No, I'm ignorant about the way you think. If you don't want to explain, then don't.

I don't think Newt was ever going to get the family values voters - those folks are going to vote for Santorum. Newt might get some of the 'not Romney' crowd, particularly in places where Romney's history as a moderate and his religion will count against him (the south), but I don't think he'll end up winning the nomination. It still seems to be Romney's to lose, which he may well do if he keeps sticking his foot in it.

An average of polls is no more accurate than any single poll. In any case, Newt has, indeed, surged again, and he may even win SC. I fully expect him to shoot himself in the the foot again though and fade once more.

The Nightline interview will make a difference I think.

I never heard about the Open Marriage thing and I'm more familiar with his past then most Americans.

Hard to imagine that this will not shock some of his supporters who think the bad stuff just involves cheating.

What's he going to do? Confess, at tonight's debate, that he wanted an Open Marriage or a menage a troi, but now's that he's and old fart his heart couldn't take it so he asked God for forgiveness?

Having to choose between him and Obama would involve the swallowing of a very bitter pill.

I agree re: the entire nomination process.

I've been talking about just SC though, which I think Newt has a chance of winning. Which would be cool, especially with the news that if anyone won Iowa it was Santorum. (If Romney was the "winner" with an 8-vote lead, then Santorum must be the "winner" with a lead that's somewhere between 34 and 69 votes.)

Then it'd change from Romney winning all three of the first states to one out of three.

Wow, you would actually vote for Obama over Newt! An understandable choice.

Cycloptichorn

Pretty much. I think the tack he's going to take is sinner but repented etc. etc.



Indeed. Which is why I'd love to see that pill on the table... but probably won't happen. SC maybe, whole thing probably not.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/01/19/romney-iras-offshore-investments-helping-his-tax-bill/

Cycloptichorn

Pretty good speech. If he could have spoken like this during debates he might not have had to drop out.

I like the line "But the mission is greater than the man."

I'm not sure Rick is truly as humble as this line suggests, but I give him credit for using it.

Unfortunately for him, this campaign will prove only to be a negative for his elective political career. I can't see him venturing onto the national stage again, and a lot of folks in Texas either got their first real impression of him or saw the one they had formed, after local elections, reshaped...and not for the better.

He's been a good Gov. here, for what the office is capable of in this state, but I guess very few Republicans saw him as presidential material.

I'm surprised that he didn't endorse Santorum so I suspect the nod to Newt, given the timing, signals a backroom deal has been cut concerning a Pres Gingrich bringing Rick to DC with him (cabinet level not VP).

In the end they are all politicians through and through.

Sorry but no, I would pull the lever for Gingrich and endure the bitter taste of it.