Mitt Romney is racking up some key endorsements today, including one from House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy. But the biggest indicator that the conservative movement is starting to coalesce behind Romney is today’s endorsement from the head of the American Conservative Union, Al Cardenas.
Cardenas, the figurehead behind the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), gently tells the other candidates he thinks it’s time for them to step aside. From his Daily Caller op-ed:
As of today, it is clear neither Senator Santorum nor Speaker Gingrich nor Congressman Paul can amass the majority of delegates required to be the Republican nominee. Their only paths to victory feature a contested, anarchic floor fight just weeks before Americans vote on whether or not to give President Obama a second term.
With all due respect to my fellow conservative leaders determined to oppose Governor Romney, that is not a worthy endeavor. For the sake of our Republic, I’m not willing to wait until the Republican National Convention to sort this out. It’s time to unite behind a worthy presidential candidate, build our organization and raise the resources necessary to defeat the liberal electoral machine. …
Governor Romney is an honorable, worthy, competent, conservative candidate for our next commander-in-chief. I’m proud to support his campaign for president.
I’m calling on my fellow conservatives, for goals both lofty and pragmatic, to join me in supporting the only candidate that can ensure President Obama’s legacy is limited to just four years of fiscal irresponsibility and disregard for our Constitution, and not eight.
This is the general conclusion many analysts have been coming to the past few weeks. But Santorum’s campaign has been arguing that his big win in Louisiana during the weekend is a sign Romney isn’t inevitable. The fact that Cardenas published this column right on the heels of Santorum’s victory is a pretty direct repudiation of that argument.
Despite the outcome in Louisiana, the next month looks pretty grim for Santorum. He’s projected to lose in Wisconsin and the handful of other April primaries, and it’s not necessarily a given that he’ll win in his home state of Pennsylvania. It may not be long before he exits the race, though he could be the first candidate to do so. It wouldn’t be a major surprise if Newt Gingrich keeps up his novelty campaign until the convention, and Ron Paul still seems content to play out his own unique delegate strategy.
Al Cardenas of CPAC uses the term, "anarchic floor fight" to describe a Republican convention that might just define the course of the nation in the years ahead. That is a better agenda than a made-for-tv coronation of the heir apparent. Maybe people would tune in to see what all the fuss is about. It is, after all, only our country we would be talking about. n nA floor fight sounds like a fine idea. If we can't fight amongst ourselves for the banner of moral clarity and conservative resolve, how can we possibly take on a flawed but savvy opponent who just happens to have the main stream media on his staff and several hundred million campaign bucks to play with? n nBring on the floor fight.
I'm with Mr. Cardenas. Anyone who thinks at this point that there's a Republican alternative to Mitt Romney is simply kidding himself. The only alternative to Mitt is Barack Obama—a fact that seems to be concentrating the minds of more and more conservatives, as well it should.
Tom: Perhaps there isn't an alternative, but we won't know unless that battle is joined. And if Romney is the victor after that battle, he will likely be a different leader than he would be if the convention were just a ceremony exalting him. He might pick a more conservative running mate, and govern more conservatively – knowing we are at the gates. n nWorst case scenario in a floor battle: We go down fighting for our beliefs. Worst case if we give up before the floor fight: We get another "establishment" endorsed candidate, ala McCain, and also the well-deserved reputation that we talk conservative values, but won't really fight for them. n nIt seems one of those moments Patrick Henry referred to and not the time for summer soldiers and sunshine patriots. I hope Gingrich, Santorum and even Paul see it the same way. We are living history. We won't make history by giving up.
This is now a question of practical politics. Mitt Romney's going to be the GOP nominee, so the name of the game now is: beat Obama. Disraeli put it well: "Damn your principles—stick to your party." That's good advice just now.
I like the quote from Disraeli, but I would counter it. Our party isn't short on good principles – just too few people williing to fight for them. As a result, we currently have weak House leadership, even weaker Senate leadership, and the unkindest cut of all, traditionally weak "establishment" presidential candidates. If we all stood closer to our principles, the party might circle back and stand with us. For a change.
Sorry, but I simply don't think that either Gingrich or Santorum—and certainly not Ron Paul—could beat Barack Obama. Gingrich has plenty of good ideas, and he's articulate, but he's also very erratic. Santorum may be a true-blue conservative, but his behavior recently makes him look querulous rather than combative. And yes, the GOP has its leadership problems—but the priority now is to get rid of Barack Obama! And as far as "standing on principle" is concerned, victory is the first principle. Without it, you're nowhere.
I certainly disagree with Mr. Cardenas. Mitt Romney is wrong for America at this particular time in history. Mitt Romney is the handpicked candidate of the GOP Establishment and R.I.N.O. + Elites and Echo Chambers media. They all lean left. The only difference between Obama now and Mitt Romney as leader of this closet-Socialist group is pace and degree of radicalization. Without left leaning, closet Socialists in Congress America could never have progressed this far down the road to Socialism and away from Constitutional government. If, Cardenas is beginning to throw in with that Socialist bunch, then he and CPAC are wrong for America and WE THE PEOPLE should not follow his lead! At this time, Newt Gingrich is the best choice for America. WE THE PEOPLE need to take this fight to the Convention floor and expose all the lies, bribes, coercion and illegalities associated with the Romney delegates wins to date. There is litigation, pending litigation and threatened litigation concerning caucus and primary voting to date to have a conservative TEA PARTY leader willing to sweep it all under the rug. For what purpose? Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely! Cardenas is wrong! TEA PARTIES to remain RELEVANT must be for what is best for America, not what's better for a portion of a political party that has gone astray. NEWT is best for America. Not MITT!! Keep the faith and the conversation going.
After 20 debates and over 3 dozen primaries, caucuses and straw polls during a nine-month period, some conservatives want a floor fight? What was all the preceding competition for – a prelude to chaos in prime time? A teaser for a bad reality show, which will be hyped by the media as a demonstration of GOP incompetence? n nRomney is winning delegates fair and square. His opponents are losing the delegate race. That's the way the cookie crumbles. n nDon't tell me that the game was rigged for Romney from the start. I've got a memory. I remember that Rick Perry swamped Romney immediately after Perry announced and if the Texas governor had been a competent candidate he would have amassed plenty of money and won easily. n nBut he wasn't. The debates and the primaries did their job. n nDivine Sarah didn't enter the fracas, nor Christie, nor Daniels. Their choice. n nOur choice is Romney – fair and square.
Thank you for the voice of reason!r nr nMitt Romney will serve all Americans.r nIn the Best interest of all!r nr nJoin us in the Support ofr nThe Next Presidentr nOf The r nUnited States of America
The GOP's choice may be Romney,but it will split the party like slavery split the Whig party and this may not be a bad thing. The point to be remembered is that the CPAC head was talking Jeb Bush who recently pulled himself out of consideration.