Mitt Romney gave his reasons for “suspending” his campaign to a conservative audience today, while Mike Huckabee vowed to stay in the race.
“If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror,” Romney told the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.
Romney did not endorse McCain, but the former head of the RNC quickly did:
McCain and Romney spoke by phone after Romney’s speech, though no endorsement was requested nor offered, according to a Republican official with knowledge of the conversation.
Within hours of Romney’s speech, former Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman endorsed McCain and urged all members of the GOP to back him.
“Our party has had many outstanding candidates this year, but it is now time for Republicans across the country to unite,” Mehlman said.
Ah, sweet unity. Sure.
Huckabee, meanwhile, forges on:
“We’re still in the race and we’re still competing for delegates, and today demonstrates how long and windy to the White House this is,” said Chip Saltsman, Huckabee’s campaign manager.
McCain, speaking at the same conference as Romney, claimed he recognizes his need for conservatives in the fall:
“I am acutely aware that I cannot succeed in that endeavor, nor can our party prevail over the challenge we will face from either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama, without the support of dedicated conservatives,” McCain said in prepared remarks to the same conference.
Good grief, Senator. Is that the best he can do? He seems to be better at pandering to illegal aliens than conservative US citizens.
We all but have our nominee. Republicans now have nearly nine months to decide whether to vote for him.
UPDATE
Here is the text of Romney’s speech to CPAC.
UPDATE
Here is the text of McCain’s speech to CPAC.
He must have been reading LST yesterday, because he quoted some of our commenters:
While I have long worked to help grow a public majority of support for Republican candidates and principles, I have also always believed, like you, in the wisdom of Ronald Reagan, who warned in an address to this conference in 1975, that “a political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers.”
Filed Under Front Page ·
Comments
25 Responses to “Romney Explains His Exit; Huckabee Marches On”Search
Our Sponsors
Poll
Loading ...LST Book Club
-
Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy
by Natan Sharansky -
Fear No Evil
by Natan Sharansky -
The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror
by Anatoly Shcharansky -
The Jewish State: The Struggle for Israel's Soul
by Yoram Hazony -
Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There
by David Brooks -
Snobbery: The American Version
by Joseph Epstein -
A Conflict of Visions: Idealogical Origins of Political Struggles
by Thomas Sowell
Huck needs to make a selfless decision as well so we can get on with it.
Com’on hit me, I trust him least. I await your wrath.
I don’t like Huckabee, I really don’t. But I don’t dislike him as much as as I dislike McCain. So, I’ll probably hold my nose and vote for him in the Primary.
In the general election? Either McCain or Huckabee is far better than Obama or Clinton.
I never thought I’d say this. I’m voting for Ron Paul in the Texas primary. He’s the best “none of the above” candidates that I can conscience cast a vote for in the primary. I despise McCain. I think the Huckster is a fake and a jerk. Romney certainly had his faults but his business experience and pragmatism would have been better in today’s political climate in DC.
Ron Paul it is.
Does anyone know exactly what names will actually be on the ballot. Will Romney still be listed since he had qualified for the ballot?
It’s really sad that the Republican party is to be represented by a man that most republicans cannot tolerate. The matter has apparently been decided even before we get an opportunity to vote. I truly believe this matter was settled long ago in some back room deals out of site of those that would differ. McCain has no conservative voting record yet continues to claim to be conservative in face of the facts.
Everyone says wait and see, so let’s see what the hopeful president McCain has to say to us. He’s got a record, and we have long memories. I’m so sick of this hold your nose s****! There is talk of third party people jumping in. Have you heard anyone on the republican side? I have only heard Nadar and Blumber.
Blumberg lol sorry
#5
Ding ding ding ding ding!
“I truly believe this matter was settled long ago in some back room deals out of site of those that would differ.”
Does anyone have a sensory deprivation tank I can borrow, for, say, about 5 years?
It’s too bad Romney didn’t give this type of speech earlier. He’d have creamed McStain.
And Huckabee, having made his backroom deal with McCain in WV to connive against Romney, is now unnecssary and shall soon be hung out to dry. McCain needs a much bigger conservative catch as VP than Huckabee.
Adee you are so right, and Tedtam, I am as pained as you. I still like the idea of the Romney dropped out party where we bury our anguish in liquor lol
Yes, but it wasn’t settled until THEY were able to midify the Karl Rove weather machine to send out braniwashing waves to those millions of voters who voterd for McCain EVEN THOUGH THEY REALLY WANTED TO VOTE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE!
Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.
7. aw
You’re right, Bloomberg for President is a real laugh. If folks think McCain’s a RINO, wait until they get a load of this guy.
11. aw
Bully! When does the drunken revelry start, and where?!?!!
You always have the best ideas, AW.
12. sarge
As Bill and Monica know quite well.
Thanks Rick! I do wish we could all get together sometime for a good ole face to face get to know ya. It would be fun.
15. AW
It’s been a long time since a Brew-Ha-Ha. Bramanti is falling down on the job. What marriage does to some guys!
Yep that explains it, marriage. It’s also just difficult to get so many diverse people together at the same time. Schedules, etc.
I remember when Bush was taking so much heat for the surge and McCain stepped up backing Bush…and I thought they may have promised McCain something little did I know….There’s no way McCain goes from out of it to wrapping it up in 3 weeks. Maybe someone in the Bush admin will write a tell all book.
I think the powers that be realized a brokered convention would be just what I said it would be. How the system really works would be revealed. There are cameras with video and recording capabilities now, and it’s hard to keep secrets when fighting for being “big chief spend it all”. lol
My goodness. The things that people will believe. Backroom deals caused the millions of voters that voted Tuesday to vote as they did. Someone called them all and told them that they would get what? NASCAR tickets?
Good grief.
BJ, damn, if it would have gone a few weeks later maybe I could have gotten tickets Daytona or Tellega.
Actually Talledega
ugh
#5
Oh, yeah, Karl Rove and Dick Cheney snuck into the bedrooms of millions of voters and hypnotized them to vote for John McCain. I’m sure they were chauffeured around by Halliburton Frac/Nitrogen Injection trucks. Good heavens, how do you people dream this crap up ?
#3 - BarryM : I wonder how many Republicans will vote for Paul over McCain? Lots of ‘em, I hope.
Incidentally, the man Ron Paul had as his financial advisor, Donald L. Luskin, just jumped over to McCain’s camp. Two days ago, Luskin was interviewed on Fox Business News by Nick Cavuto where he said, I’ll tell you this, on election dayRon Paul is getting my vote if I have to write him in. I hope he goes all the way, somehow, some way.” You can watch it here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDfPaUux1Kc