Team Romney source hints that Mitt will drop out? Update: Confirmed — Romney “suspending” campaign; Update: Mitt to endorse McCain?
posted at 11:54 am on February 7, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Back-of-the-envelope math by the Globe reveals that Mitt could tie McCain in delegates by March 4 if he wins all of the remaining February primaries … by an 80 percent margin. No one knows yet how things look in winner-take-all Virginia on Tuesday but Maverick’s up 10 points in Maryland per the available polls, which are old enough not to incorporate his Super Tuesday momentum or the centrists he gained from Rudy’s dropout. Byron York wonders whether the sudden deafening silence in his inbox from the Romney PR shop portends a big announcement. Answer: Maybe.
A few moments ago, I spoke to someone in the Romney camp. Would I be crazy to read that into the email traffic? “You would not be crazy to read that into it,” he said. “There have been a lot of discussions going on about whether there is a path to victory, and not wanting to look destructive at what might be the end. You are reading the right thing into it.”
Geraghty says it’s time to start thinking about 2012. Exit question: He takes the stage at CPAC in about 20 minutes, for a speech his campaign was promoting yesterday as “major.” What on earth is he going to say?
Update: And now Mark Halperin’s hearing it. The announcement could come at CPAC.
Update: I’ve got to believe that his speech will be a stemwinder about conservative values and fighting the good fight, all very much with an eye to creating a memory he can leverage four years from now. Shrewd, if so.
Update: If it’s true then needless to say Huckabee 2008 isn’t long for this world either.
Update: More from York. Looks like this is indeed going down at CPAC. High drama.
Update: I’m guessing the decision was made only within the last few hours because the Times report from early this a.m. sure doesn’t sound like a feint:
Mr. Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, delivered an upbeat pep talk to his staff on Wednesday at his Boston headquarters. His advisers are considering television commercials for some of the next states to vote. “They’re making phone calls tonight,” said Tagg Romney, a son of Mr. Romney who is also a senior campaign adviser.
Update: Bryan just called me to say that they confirmed with an American Conservative Union official that Mitt’s “suspending” his campaign. I assume that means dropping out, but in the interests of accuracy that’s the word that was used. MM should have something on this imminently.
Update: Credit where it’s due — Bill Kristol predicted he’d drop out at CPAC on Tuesday night.
Update: Mitt’s got a fee-vah and the only prescription is more Maverick!
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OHMYGOSH…
does this mean that the little hamster Bill Kristol NAILED IT on election night on FOX when he said Mitt would pull out at CPAC…
wow…
Always Right on February 7, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Obama is much more of an ideologue than Hillary. And he is on exactly the wrong side in a lot of his international views as well.
Hey, Obama’s great if you are a Marxist, or a muslim, or if you are black. Otherwise, not too good.
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 12:40 PM
It would be hillarious if Romney supports Paul and tells his delegates to back him
offroadaz on February 7, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Sorry, kiddo. My back’s already turned. I’m the new RINO. It’s your party, and your welcome to it.
RushBaby on February 7, 2008 at 12:41 PM
More to it than that. The Formidable McCain
bnelson44 on February 7, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Wait one on that. I’m also going through the remainder of the delegates to see which other ones assigned to Romney were officially “unpledged” (i.e. based on endorsements from party delegates)
steveegg on February 7, 2008 at 12:41 PM
John McCain to Receive Major Endorsement in Maryland
ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that John McCain will receive a major endorsement and make remarks to the Baltimore County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner today, Thursday, February 7th.
bnelson44 on February 7, 2008 at 12:44 PM
New RINO right along with ya. Obama 08′
TOPV on February 7, 2008 at 12:44 PM
The Dream Is Dead….
Jared_MA on February 7, 2008 at 12:44 PM
To where?
flyfisher on February 7, 2008 at 12:44 PM
The endorsement is evidently from Mitt.
Jeez… how the world has turned…
Always Right on February 7, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Wow, they are really getting desperate. Too late :-) Obama 08′
TOPV on February 7, 2008 at 12:45 PM
My roommate believes the primaries are a farce and the real primaries are in some secret meeting, like they’re part of some big NWO or something. Nonsense.
There are certainly deals made and so forth during campaigns about the campaigns, but a pre-determined selection? I am guessing this sort of thought process is a result of witnessing a poor selection of candidates.
Weebork on February 7, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Let me guess, he’s a Ron Paul supporter?
bnelson44 on February 7, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Poor pool of candidates I should say.
Weebork on February 7, 2008 at 12:46 PM
What a great way to stick it to Huckabee…
Jared_MA on February 7, 2008 at 12:46 PM
I won’t be home, but I will be voting dem for Pres and Repub on the lower ticket.
jwp1964 on February 7, 2008 at 12:46 PM
He’s going to tell CPAC:
Via Halperin.
amerpundit on February 7, 2008 at 12:46 PM
I never called you or anybody a RINO on this board. That’s your game, and you are welcome to it. Enjoy your purity.
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I personally applaud Mitt’s decision to put the best interests of the party and the country ahead of his own campaign.
By showing some class and making this move, he has assured me that he is someone that is worthy of consideration in the future.
Now, there should be no further obstacles to uniting our party and stopping the empty suit the Dems are likely to nominate from winning the White House.
If we can’t defeat an empty suit, socialist that is part of the corrupt Chicago political machine and has never had an accomplishment in his life, then conservatism is dead and we may as well rename America into Venzuela II.
However,I for one, do believe that we can defeat this empty suit.
Remember, without oter fraud in Illinois, Kennedy would never have been in the White House.
Barack is an illusion, a fantasy, a transparant ghost that has no gravitas and has done nothing. WE CAN DEFEAT HIM.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 7, 2008 at 12:47 PM
[bnelson44 on February 7, 2008 at 12:31 PM]
That’s the obvious reason, but what basis is there for doing so? Of course, not causing a rift that carries through to November is also, but again, what basis is there for doing so as opposed to withdrawing?
Stopping now, with the second most delegates in hand, will encourage votes for McCain in subsequent primaries, thus his arriving at the convention with sufficient delegates to take the nomination outright. There is nothing gained, IMO, for suspending, neither bargaining power at the convention, nor arm twisting for the VP slot. The only thing, I suspect, that suspension does is keep his organization in order for something coming up in the short term, such as a VP slot, which he may be telegraphing that he is amenable to, which is why I mentioned it.
Dusty on February 7, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Look guys, in the Kelo decision, SCOTUS already gave government the green light to take your personal property to increase tax revenues. Is it really such a stretch to imagine an Obama court approving emminent domain to “redress historical discrimination” or some such?
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Well, crap!
SimplyKimberly on February 7, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Let’s face it McCain won with 35% of the GOP vote. He has no mandate, he can not unite the party. the party is broken, the South is in play. The utter hatred of the GOP for its base will destroy itself. The rockefeller reps are now doomed to a minority status until a concervation comes along to once again unite the party. I haven’t been a rep in my heart since Bush spent his way to reelection, the immigration debate pushed me farther from the party, now that 35% of the party decided to elect the status quo who as early as MI primary had no idea the country was in deep economic trouble leaves me out in the cold.
unseen on February 7, 2008 at 12:49 PM
No, not a Ron Paul supporter –come to think of it I have no idea who he would vote for in the general election. He has mentioned this secret selection thing twice so far and the second one was during the results of Super-duper ultra-megasaur Tuesday.
Sometimes I just don’t get people.
So I just assume that his sentiment to mean he wasn’t happy with any of the Republican candidates this time around. Rather than just say that, he comes up with some freaky-deaky rationale, if you could call it that.
Weebork on February 7, 2008 at 12:49 PM
If Obama is the Dem candidate and Republicans don’t vote for McCain, they are signalling that they are willing to accept:
1) Rapid capitulation, defeat, and withdrawal in Iraq.
2) Almost certain subsequent defeat in Afghanistan
3) The certainty that Iran will obtain nuclear weapons, with no hope of any form of opposition
4) At least one, probably two extreme left, Constitutional revisionist supreme court judges (who might well be seated until the day you die).
There are other horrors that will probably transpire, but those are the worst four I can think of. Personally, I’m not willing to live with any of them. With McCain there are no guarantees, but I think there’s a good chance that at least some of these nightmares might not come to pass. That’s vastly preferable to all of them coming to pass.
Obviously, anyone can cross their arms like a petulant child and boycott the process (like Tom Brady boycotting the Pro Bowl). But those who take things seriously will sack up and face the fact that reality, while never perfect, has a way of catching up with you if you don’t confront it head-on, even if the confrontation isn’t pleasant.
Blacklake on February 7, 2008 at 12:49 PM
I will not be scared or duped into compromising my principles. I am a conservative before I’m a member of any political party. And I will never vote for John McCain.
HYTEAndy on February 7, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Didn’t intend to imply that you had. Someone, a day or two ago, pointed out that with the Moderates taking over the Republican Party, it is no longer them who are Republicans In Name Only. It is the Conservatives who are the new RINOs. I for one wear that label with pride.
RushBaby on February 7, 2008 at 12:52 PM
i look forward to seeing Mitt fight for the conservative cause for years to come.
locke on February 7, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Uh-Oh. The Michael Savage fanboys who manifestly don’t matter to the party anymore are threatening to take their vote to the Dems!
Hiney Von Pewps on February 7, 2008 at 12:53 PM
It appears that we’ve come full circle, and that it’s safe to call Mitt a RINO again.
Big S on February 7, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Sad but true. If this cadre of candidates is the best and brightest the GOP has to offer, we might as well learn to speak Spanish and prepare to relinquish all our personal wealth to help the new
illegalimmigrants get the gringo money they want, deserve, and expect !!Look out third world, here we come.
saiga on February 7, 2008 at 12:54 PM
I pray he does. He is giving a terrific speech at CPAC right now.
flyfisher on February 7, 2008 at 12:55 PM
WTF???!!!!!
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 7, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Perhaps, this is a good thing. Republicans know who their nominee is and have time to rally behind McCain while Dems have hard time figuring out who their candidate is.
terryannonline on February 7, 2008 at 12:56 PM
The coup de ta of the GOP is now complete.
Resistance is futile
ScottyDog on February 7, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Ok, so I’m officially behind……..….I’ll get back to you after a second look at a bottle of Jack.
Geronimo on February 7, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Romney’s just showcased to you, his most ardent followers, that he believes McCain is superior to Huckabee and deserves your vote. If he hated McCain half as much as you all do, he’d stay in the race. Are you going to take his advice, or hand the country to socialists, who will massively expand the welfare state and decimate the military, while they increase abortion rights?
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Haha. Everything old is new again!
Slublog on February 7, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Game over man, game over.
Zorro on February 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Rushbaby @ 12:52
I like your reasoning regarding the redefining of RINO. Strange times we are living in when words like RINO begin to apply to just conservatives!
Weebork on February 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
In one of Mitt’s last ads (online only), did he not compare JMac to Hillary?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
You guys are right. I’ll be voting on the lower tickets. It’s the only hope we have…
voiceofreason on February 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I gather you are not listening to his CPAC speech.
Buy Danish on February 7, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Since McCain and his buddy Juan Hernandez are just going to cede our country to Mexico anyway, does it really matter?
AZCoyote on February 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM
I think he’s goofing on the fact that everyone who supports McCain has been called a RINO at one time or another.
Slublog on February 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM
No way I will ever vote for him. His amnesty crusade fixed me for life. He will sell the country down the river as he becomes more and more enchanted with the pinkos on the idiot left.
saiga on February 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM
SECOND LOOK AT MELTING BUNNIES AND CANADIAN WORKPLACE SAFETY COMMERCIALS!!!
HYTEAndy on February 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM
They’re brokering the nomination before the convention. McCain is setting his sights on Hillary or Obama, but he’s never going to win without making serious concessions to the Conservative base.
McCain is conceding a lot here, and it may just work out. We’d be wrong to trust McCain, but maybe he’s going to flip-flop on some issues to satisfy the base. Mitt will help him get there. Huckabee will fall in line shortly thereafter.
Face it, we have no chance unless this happens.
Conservative Coalition for President in 2008!
frode on February 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM
If this is the case, what does that mean for Rush, Hannity, Coulter, et al who claimed Romney was the Great Conservative Hope, the next Reagan, the only three-legged conservative?
Sometimes “principles” can be so confusing.
It’s getting hard to keep up with which Republicans I’m supposed to hate and which ones are our the savior of the party.
wardrobedoor on February 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
If only he’d campaigned and governed Massachusetts according to the principles he is laying out in this speech.
flyfisher on February 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
And the sound of a thousand tiny little splashes as the “true conservatives” jump off board Mitt’s ship rang through the air.
RINO.
amkun on February 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
BINGO ou just won the John McCain jackpot !!!
saiga on February 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
leaving the ticket blank is stupid…sorry. You have 6 Supreme court justices that are old old old. YOu don’t get even a modicum of conservatism in the white house and we’ll have decades and decades of trouble ahead. don’t be stupid. People voted in our party and McCain won. He’s heads and tails above Obama and Hillary
spacekicker on February 7, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Dark days indeed…..but we will return. It will take a while, but we will be back and when we do, we need not settle for an “at least he’s not the worst” candidate but demand a conservative candidate who stands for all of our beliefs, not just a few. Stop this bipartisan, reach across the isle crap and stand for what you believe in. Don’t accept the McCains and Huckabees of the world. Yeah its a big tent but when you walk in, your gonna be a conservative and we accept no less. We are right.
Big Orange on February 7, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Them ain’t attempted scare tactics, BTW. Them’s just the facts. Vote for abortion! Vote Obama! Vote for gun grabbing! Vote Obama! Vote for surrender to jihadists (who are just as good as you anyway, you islamophobe)! Vote Obama! Vote for higher taxes! Vote Obama!
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Anyone said it yet?
Congratulations, Allah.
Slublog on February 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
If Romney and Huckabee drop out, there will be less pressure on McCain to placate the conservative base. In fact, McCain would probably more further left to gather centrists and moderates from the Democratic Party who won’t abide the ultra-liberal views (or the gender or race) of their party’s candidate.
NNtrancer on February 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Bump that. I think it’s time to start thinking of organizing a new political party, one that embraces conservative values, after the election. Let El Presidente Juan has his turn and then challenge in ‘12.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Oh okay. Although in McCain’s case it has some validity. Not his supporters necessarily, but him :)
Indeed, if the rumors are true, it appears MAC came close to evolving in a full-fledged Donkey.
Buy Danish on February 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Bwaa ha ha ha!!! Everybody was worried that Fred would betray them by endorsing McCain, (a rumor perhaps started by Romney), and here it turns out that Romney is the one endorsing McCain! Bwa ha ha ha!!!
FloatingRock on February 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Mitt’s got a fee-vah and the only prescription is more Maverick!
What more proof do you need that Romney is a fellow RINO along with McCain and Huck?
A true conservative would have dropped out and endorsed neither.
Benaiah on February 7, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Exit question: Will Rush’s head explode?
MarkoMancuso on February 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
I agree he could have done a lot more of this during the campaign, but how did he not govern that way?
Buy Danish on February 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Hahaha… yeah, congrats Allah.
Nineball on February 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Speaking of that….anyone heard from Fred?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Ha. Thanks, guys.
Allahpundit on February 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
In 1976, did Ronald Reagan give a ringing endorsement to Ford? I just don’t remember.
flyfisher on February 7, 2008 at 1:06 PM
I will still be laughing in five minutes.
infidel on February 7, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Anyone that thinks that a splinter party of conservatives would have any possible success is forgetting that conservatives don’t believe in doing drugs, because you would have to be very stoned to delude yourself into thinking that a Party of right wing extremists could win a national election in America in the 21st century.
Pass the bong, boys.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 7, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Big Orange, yeah, it’s a big tent, but only people who believe exactly the same things on all issues as you do can come in.
I guess Rudy Giuliani need not apply, since he doesn’t care about passing a federal ban on abortion?
funky chicken on February 7, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Well, when Hewitt finally threw in the towel yesterday it was obvious the end was at hand.
mugged on February 7, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Fox just called it. Romney’s done.
fourstringfuror on February 7, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Sorry guys, you see, RINOs have been loud and proud for some time now.
http://www.ragingrinos.com/
It doesn’t have to change. Something tells me that the people who are threatening to abandon the party will be over the “RINOs’ shoulders telling them that they’re commies tomorrow, the next day and for the forseeable future.
You see, what we’re dealing with here is not “principle” but prima donnas.
Although I’d have to say, I wouldn’t mind if they did leave forever.
Hiney Von Pewps on February 7, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Vote to add 40 million Mexicans (and their families) to the welfare, Social Security, and Medicaid/Medicare rolls! Vote to destroy our American culture (you nativist bigots)! Vote to make Spanish your children and grandchildren’s native language! Vote McCain!
AZCoyote on February 7, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Every single issue above except the Jihadists are McCain’s positions on the issues.
How old are you anyway
ScottyDog on February 7, 2008 at 1:09 PM
he endorsed him and helped him out some in campaign
jp on February 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Conservatives just lost the presidency today.
geckomon on February 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Well, that’s that.
Conservatives have officially been screwed. Again.
I reserve the right to change my mind later, (depending on who gets the Veep spot on the GOP ticket) but for now, I’m sitting out the POTUS portion of the vote in November. I’ll vote on every other line, but I’m either gonna leave the POTUS line blank, or write in Mickey Mouse.
Stupid RINO’s. You wrecked the party. I’m not helping you clean up the mess.
wearyman on February 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Good job Mitt.
Now do what Rudy did, be a Team Player.
Chakra Hammer on February 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Good speech by Romney. If he endorses McCain I guess it is tonight.
bnelson44 on February 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Where can I buy a Mitt12 sticker?????
OKCubsFan on February 7, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Who is the manager of this team?
HebrewToYou on February 7, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Two quick examples:
He mandated health care, which was enough to keep me from supporting him (in the primaries).
And then there’s this from National Review:
Romney’s website brags about how he balanced the Massachusetts budget “without raising taxes.” That depends on what the meaning of “taxes” is. Unmentioned on the Romney website is how he dealt with a state budget gap: namely, by quadrupling the fee for a Firearms Identification card (FID) to $100. Without a FID in Massachusetts, you are a felon if you possess a single bullet, even if you don’t own a gun. The FID card is required even to possess defensive pepper spray. Thus, an impoverished woman who wanted to buy a $15 can of pepper spray was forced by Romney to spend $100 for the privilege of defending her own life.
Romney managed to be bad on guns and taxes at the same time. Only someone with a tin ear for Republican politics could manage that.
flyfisher on February 7, 2008 at 1:12 PM
The reason I will never vote for McCain is because of amnesty. He will sell us out to Mexico, and I hate that.
If McCain is the candidate, I will not hold my nose and vote for him. That would only encourage more like him to hijack the nominatin in the future. If any of the 3 remaining candidates win, things will be ultra bad, so I will not actively help push the country over the brink.
Think of it as tough love.
saiga on February 7, 2008 at 1:12 PM
As far as the nomination process goes, that happened months ago.
Years ago if you consider what’s been going on since 2000.
Hollowpoint on February 7, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Wow, I feel like it’s 1996 all over again.
McDole Vs. Clinton
BOHICA’08
HotAirExpert on February 7, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Oh goody! The taunters are coming out of the woodwork!
RushBaby on February 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
So, I am now at liberty to crossover in the Texas primary on March 4 and vote for Obama, as a way of stopping both the Glacier and McCain. Sweet.
Yes I can. Yes I can. Yes I can.
paul006 on February 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Same conference, wrong team.
geckomon on February 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Where does this extremist nonsense come from?
Hiney Von Pewps on February 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
I’m now officially a Huckabee supporter….sigh.
Livefreeordie on February 7, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Well, I think that’s the point of Romney putting his support behind McCain is because we are in a time of war and to prevent military meddling by Democrats we, as a party, have to put support to the front runner so the general campaign can begin. I know what he means and I agree in the abstract, but I disagree with it because it means Mitt drops out.
I do know that Sen Clinton, if elected, would no pull our troops out anytime soon, so the Iraq issue will be moot. It’s more the social side of the country that will be damaging if Clinton or Obama gets in. The Supreme Court being a big reason.
Weebork on February 7, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Guys, don’t call a Mitt a RINO for this. C’mon. I do consider a McCain a RINO but I do not consider McCain’s begrudged “what other choice do I have?” supporters to be automatic RINOs.
I can’t stand McCain but I will consider voting for him if he apologizes for twisting Mitt’s words and turning the race into a military-vs-nonmilitary class warfare.
Maybe we should lobby for a “McCain, but I hate his guts” option on the ballot.
locke on February 7, 2008 at 1:15 PM
How Our Opponents See the Race
bnelson44 on February 7, 2008 at 1:17 PM
“BOHICA 08″ HA. Niicee….
Weebork on February 7, 2008 at 1:17 PM
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