After Meeting, Conservative Leaders Rally Around Santorum
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About 150 conservative and evangelical leaders said today they decided after a private meeting Friday night that Rick Santorum is the best candidate to support in the Republican presidential primary.
The meeting reflected conservatives’ desire to stop Mitt Romney’s momentum before the Jan. 21 primary in South Carolina, where evangelical voters are expected to play a significant role.
The leaders met at a ranch outside Houston and heard from surrogates from all of the candidates’ campaigns — except for Jon Huntsman’s — and after three rounds of balloting, Santorum was chosen.
Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, described the support for Santorum as a “strong consensus” after “a vigorous and passionate discussion.”
Perkins said that he expected “some activity” within 24 hours of the endorsement, though he stayed vague on the matter and hinted only that some groups and leaders would make their official support known in that time.
Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Ron Paul survived the first round of balloting, which had all the candidates listed as options, Perkins told reporters on a conference call this morning. After a second round, Santorum and Gingrich emerged as the favorites, and after a final, third round, Santorum won at least two-thirds of the vote, Perkins said.
Santorum has ridden into New Hampshire and South Carolina with a swift wind behind him after he virtually tied Romney in the caucuses in Iowa, where evangelical voters gave him a much-needed boost.
“He has a record of stability,” Perkins said. “He’s reliable.”
Perkins, who described himself as a spokesman for the 150 conservatives who met in Texas, said the discussion focused on “the positive,” not Romney-bashing. “There was some discussion” of Romney’s positions on abortion, however, he said.
“Not a lot of time was spent on Mitt Romney,” he said.
The leaders did note that Santorum has struggled to raise as much money as the other candidates have, though Perkins said “those issues can be corrected,” expressing hope that the group’s support for him will bring about more fundraising.
Many conservatives fear that Romney will run away with a win in the South Carolina primary if conservative voters are split among more than one candidate, similar to what happened in 2008 when John McCain won the vote there.
The conservatives didn’t discuss the possibility of Perry, who is pressing on in South Carolina despite poor showings in the contests in Iowa and in New Hampshire, dropping out of the race, Perkins said. He did say that they discussed whether leaders who supported Gingrich would be willing to switch sides and back Santorum, though he cautioned that not all Gingrich supporters are prepared to do so.
The biggest issues discussed at the meeting were repealing President Obama’s signature health care law, cutting the deficit and reducing government spending, Perkins said. After the discussion, Perkins said, they determined that Santorum “best reflected the conservative movement.”
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
Oh so they want to continue the holy wars? Oh ok….but WHO WILL PAY FOR THEM? WILL THEY PAY FOR THEM? WILL THEY SEND THEIR OWN KIDS TO DIE FOR THEM? The conservatives are once again showing that they are not honest people and like the man they have chosen are morally corrupt.
Posted by: suckfesterous Megalous | January 14, 2012, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Um, no. Just no. And, ewww.
Posted by: Bobby Jo | January 14, 2012, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Mitt Romney – The Republican the Republicans love to hate.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 14, 2012, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
This should give Santorum a small boost.
Unfortunately (for him) it won’t harm Paul at all, because Paul is small government, and Santorum is not.
Gingrich is the leading non-Romney in South Carolina, so we just continue having this 3-way split of non-Romney candidates.
However, that isn’t all bad, it’s possible one or more of those 3 will emerge above Romeny’s ever weak support.
He’s not exactly a runaway favorite.
Posted by: RoboBobo33333 | January 14, 2012, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
If any one of the conservatives win we’ll be bombing Iran about 2 days after they are sworn in , that is if they wait that long. Note: The Russians and the Chinese sell high tech weapons to / buy oil from Iran , and consequently they are more or less economic “allies” . Iran , Afghanistan and Pakistan et al. aren’t far from being pushed into an unholy Anti-US alliance as well . Just keep poking around over there …Stupid stupid stupid .
Posted by: americans_are_duuuuh | January 14, 2012, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Never in a hundred, never in a thousand, never in a MILLION years would I vote for Santorum!
Posted by: Linda J. | January 14, 2012, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Unfortunately (for him) it won’t harm Paul at all, because Paul is small government….Posted by: RoboBobo33333 | January 14, 2012, 2:32 pm.
Well, he claims to be, anyway. Texas just started enforcing a new law yesterday. It REQUIRES, per the Texas government, any and every woman seeking an abortion, to undergo a medically unnecessary ultrasound. The Texas government is forcing doctors, under penalty of fine or imprisonment, to perform a medically unnecessary procedure on their patients. Forcing them to do something medically unnecessary, regardless of how the doctor or the patient feels about it. And forcing them to pay for a medically unnecessary procedure. Ron Paul said, when asked about it, ‘It should have been done a long time ago’. So Mr. Small Government Paul supports the government sticking its nose between a doctor and a patient, and right into a womans uterus. He is a flaming hypocrite.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 14, 2012, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
Never happen. Sanitarium is an extremist with No shot.
Posted by: Jim Bob jr. | January 14, 2012, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
These 170 Evangelical leaders that are endorsing Santorum should all lose the tax exempt status for their churches according to the IRS. If the Catholics, Mormons, Muslims, etc. were to do this, there would be a major uproar from these same self-proclaimed Christian leaders! Are they above the law?
According to the IRS website, a church or organization that qualifies for tax exempt status under the IRC 501(c)(3) rule is prohibited from participating or intervening in election campaigns or the making of oral statements on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for public office.
Posted by: Canyon | January 14, 2012, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
“Are they above the law?” —– Yes. In fact the Supreme Court just ruled that normal employment laws that apply to non-religious institutions do NOT apply to them. So in may ways, they actually ARE above the law.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 14, 2012, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
Personally I wish Santorum COULD beat Romney. An Obama/Romney race would be kinda close. An Obama/Santorum race would be a cake walk for Obama.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 14, 2012, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Santorum beat Romney? It can’t happen: The GOP wants to run Romney, who’s moderate enough to attract voters who would be completely repelled by the very things that make Santorum attractive to the far right. So get set to put those Romney lawn signs in front of your homes, conservatives, Santorum is a loser.
Posted by: Cassandra | January 14, 2012, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
Re: “If any one of the conservatives win we’ll be bombing Iran about 2 days after they are sworn in….” Probably, but none of their kids will go into battle. They’ll send your children to die there instead, just as Bush did when he sent the military to attack Iraq. They talk tough, but they aren’t the one’s whose sons and daughters bleed out in the sand nor do they have to cry over lost loved ones.
Posted by: Cassandra | January 14, 2012, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
Terrific
Your site is very helpful…
Thanks…
Posted by: prorriego | January 14, 2012, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
I consider myself a moderate conservative. I just don’t like the guy. Reminds me of some of the pretenders I’ve worked with in my engineering career. Sorry, but that’s how he comes across to me.
Posted by: newcountryman | January 14, 2012, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Santorum is a ignorant theocrat and a chickenhawk. First, he’d set us back 300 years to a Puritanical society, and then he’d start WWIII. We DON”T need him in the White House!
Posted by: Dr. Bubba | January 14, 2012, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Tax exempt status of those preachers’ churches should be rescinded. They are politicians, not pastors.
Posted by: ToddBruneau | January 14, 2012, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Just more proof that evangelicals are idiots.
Posted by: antimental | January 14, 2012, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
If Santorum wins…….I go to third party……pure and simple.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 14, 2012, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
I like Santorum as a person, however running agains Obama would cause a lot of the independents to vote for Obama because Santorum is very conservative whereas Romney is more of a moderate conservative. Romney could actually get some of the swing votes. A big shame on the evangelical leaders for making public their personal choices and not staying quiet about it all. This report makes them look very much like a insider mob scene out of a movie.
Posted by: Danielle | January 14, 2012, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
“Just more proof that evangelicals are idiots.” No need for more proof. The proof of their idiocy was there looooooooooong ago. As my grandfather used to say, “If someone prays too loud in the A-Men Corner, you’d better go home and lock your smokehouse”.
Posted by: RyanC | January 14, 2012, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
You evangelicals are just sensless and biased and your actions are prejudiced. Rick santrum is a clear opportunist and is just exploiting the evangelics.
Posted by: LAL | January 14, 2012, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
There were only 150 of them! Despreaux said: “Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l’admire” A fool will find greater fools to admire him. I guess someone will blindly follow the declaration.
My first choice is Ron Paul. I’d reluctantly vote for Gingrich if he gets the Republican nomination. Romney can’t beat Obama. He is Obama! Put both there records side by side and you can’t tell much difference except that Romney has had more experience at being an elitist liberal. Santorum says he’ll rule by his view of Gods law. Not the laws passed by our elected government. Muslim Taliban or Christian evangelical, religious fanatics scare me. If Romney or Santorum get the Republican nomination I’ll look for a third party. Or stay home and wait for the revolt. God help us all.
Posted by: cloud | January 14, 2012, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
These 170 Evangelical leaders that are endorsing Santorum should all lose the tax exempt status for their churches according to the IRS. If the Catholics, Mormons, Muslims, etc. were to do this, there would be a major uproar from these same self-proclaimed Christian leaders! Are they above the law?
According to the IRS website, a church or organization that qualifies for tax exempt status under the IRC 501(c)(3) rule is prohibited from participating or intervening in election campaigns or the making of oral statements on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for public office.
Posted by: James Friedlander | January 14, 2012, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
President Obama will win in a landslide.
Posted by: dan | January 14, 2012, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
They should all burn in hell for that stupid decision. RON PAUL 2012
Posted by: Rick Parry | January 14, 2012, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
Idiots supporting an idiot, tell me it ain’t so…..These various organizations should rename themselves because they are nothing more than bigots, have no respect for women, hate the poor, and are self serving morons who use the bible to hide their blatant stupidity.
Posted by: mrgmorgan56 | January 14, 2012, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
That is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. Santorum is no man of God. He is the devil who wants to kill scientist. That creep who defiled his dead baby should be in the nut house. Those pastors have revealed themselves to be crazy.
Posted by: Sylvis | January 14, 2012, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
Wow they went for the most insane person on the GOP ticket. Impressive!! The Bible taught me that belief in God was of free will. They want to promote the person most likely to reflect their will on the people. Does religion expect freedom and liberty but want to deny the people what God allowed? Makes you really think about who’s interest they are looking out for most. I think I will vote for Ron Paul as he is the most likely to allow for the freedom and liberty that the founding fathers invisioned. After all the founding fathers knew a lot about tyranny and serfdom and maybe the Constitution has always been the best guide for achieving and holding onto Liberty and Freedom.
Posted by: Berlin Veteran | January 14, 2012, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
Tony Perkins is well respected in the evangelical community and I’m glad to hear that the 150 leaders have expressed their support for Sen. Santorum. Now evangelical voters in SC must vote for him and not Gov. Perry.
Posted by: Mark A. Peter, MA, MA | January 14, 2012, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
Is anyone really surprised. Separation of church and state must and will be maintained but not if this man gets elected. He already has said his religion will have a bearing on his decisions and he is against all forms of birth control including the pill and condumns. He has a right to feel this way but others have rights also and I fear he would take these rights away. He has already said he will kill Roe v. Wade and condemn birth control of any sort. Even Pres. Reagan had a strong feeling and made a strong statement that there must be this separation of church and state. Furthermore, he is an advocate of war…and this country is tired of war …weary and broke financially from the 8 years of Bushs’ war. Our soldiers men and women are tired and want to stay home. President Obama is against war unless we are attacked. He has a better plan to fight wars and terrorists…drones and other newer methods and not to send people in …only as a last resort. He also has a plan to have other countries get engaged in these wars because it is less expensive as they share the cost and if they send men…they share that also. I think this is a better way and hope we do not come to this. I would hate to see the soldiers who just got home….turn around and enter another war like Santorum wants to do. Women need to be wary of Santorum and these religious right people. They have already attacked womens rights and this is only the beginning. Mr. Santorum is a good person but not to be president….we need someone who is the president of all and not everyone agrees with him religiously and we do have religious freedom here in America so we need a president to be for all, races, color and religion
Posted by: Talmag | January 14, 2012, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
This election, it’s easier than ever to decide who you should vote for. We had 8 years of Bush 43. The People “hoped” they’d get “change”. They didn’t. Obama has continued the worst of Bush’s policies – even expanded them. Bush gave us “prescription drug benefit”. Obama gave us “Obamacare”. Bush: Afghanistan, Iraq Obama, Those plus Pakistan, Yemen, Libya, Uganda. Bush brought the “Destroy the Fourth Amendment” Act (“PATRIOT Act). Obama: the Defense Authorization bill that destroys the Fifth Amendment. Bush: Bailouts of the 1%. Obama: Bigger bailouts of the 1%.
So what are the choices this time?
You can vote for a fourth term of Bush-type policies, by voting for Obama, Santorum, Romney, Gingrich or Huntsman. They’re basically all the same. They just emphasize different aspects of failed policies. But not one of them is serious about preserving and defending the Constitution. When Romney gets asked a question about the Constitution, he turns to Ron Paul for answers. (Seriously. Go look at video of the last New Hampshire debate.) Not ONE of these candidates will make your life better in any way. If any of them wins, the Federal Reserve will continue to devalue your money. People will keep losing their homes. Military will keep fighting in other countries for no discernible reason. (Remember why we went into Iraq 10 years ago?) So you can vote for more of the same…
Or you can vote for Constitutional government, smaller government, more freedom, less government spending, an end to undeclared and pointless wars, a balanced budget and an economic policy that makes sense. You can vote for Ron Paul.
If you’re going to vote, those are pretty much your choices.
Posted by: BambiB | January 15, 2012, 3:48 am 3:48 am
LOL! …… My name is Forrest Gump and I’m a Republican. I really do hope that Rick Santorum is the Republi-C-R-E-T-_-N nominee for the November 2012 election.
(*wink*, *wink*, *wink*)
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | January 15, 2012, 6:14 am 6:14 am
Santorum reminds me of those religious zealots in the middle east that run their countries using the Quran. There is supposed to be separation of church and state in this country but, Santorum wants to bring the bible to the oval office to run it and that’s something that cannot happen. I have no problem with his religious beliefs, just don’t push them on the rest of the country through this office. The evangelicals like some other hate groups, want to force their beliefs on everyone else. They even force their own followers to vote their way or be expelled from the church. They are no different than the Muslim Brotherhood or Islamic extremist in the middle east wanting to force their political views on the masses for their own self interest. I will NEVER vote for Santorum or anyone that wants to bring their religion into the presidency. Leave religion out of politics.
Posted by: Indymind | January 15, 2012, 6:45 am 6:45 am
What I don’t understand is if these “evangelical” voters are so danged religious, how can they back a war mongering candidate like Gingrich, Santorum or Romney? They all want to expand the war machine (which everyone knows was created for profit), invade countless countries illegally, without as much as a declaration of war first, and kill hundreds if not thousands of innocent civilians and American soldiers. What part of “thou shalt not kill” did they miss in Sunday School?
Posted by: NotOnMyWatch | January 15, 2012, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Santorum couldn’t beat Osama Bin Laden much less Barrack Obama.
Posted by: Atilathehun101 | January 15, 2012, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm