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Turning Point Florida

By W. James Antle, III on 1.30.12 @ 1:53PM

Newt Gingrich could lose Florida by a double-digit margin tomorrow. What will that mean for each candidate remaining the race?

For Gingrich, February will be the toughest month. If he doesn't pull off an upset in Florida, he isn't favored in another nominating contest until March 6. Can he keep his campaign going until Super Tuesday? That will be his challenge if losses follow in Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan. There also aren't any debates. But Gingrich is adept at using free media to keep himself in the spotlight.

Mitt Romney is obviously hoping that Florida effectively ends the competitive porition of the Republican race. That doesn't mean that he'll go undefeated in the remaining primaries and caucuses (barring major candidate withdrawals). But the Romney camp hopes a solid Florida win will establish their candidate as the only one with a realistic path to the nomination.

Rick Santorum is betting that even if Florida derails Gingrich, the depth of anti-Romney sentiment within the GOP is strong enough that there will be a search for another conservative alternative. Santorum will stress that he is a more principled -- if less "flamboyant" -- conservative choice than Gingrich in any event. It's a long shot since Santorum isn't favored in any February states either, but it's more than enough to keep him in the race past tomorrow.

Ron Paul has effectively bypassed Florida but is also hoping the Sunshine State ends Gingrich's run as the main anti-Romney. Unlike Santorum, however, there are several caucuses ahead where Paul's campaign believes he can do well. The next month will be a test of their caucus strategy, which has them prioritizing the delegate hunt over primaries where finishing ahead of Santorum would be considered a moral victory.

View all comments (12) | Leave a comment

Clint| 1.30.12 @ 2:20PM

Another RINO-CINO Candidate Du Jour

Big Government Ricky Santorum's Record On Voting For Earmarks, Even The Bridge To Nowhere, His Support For The Lobbyist "K-Street Project" , His Tariff Votes, Medicare Prescription Drugs, No Child Left Behind,Etc. Is Gonna Sink Him With Tea Party Patriots.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.

Dai Alanye| 1.30.12 @ 3:15PM

Santorum's ratings during his sixteen years in Congress:
American Conservative Union -- 88%
National Right to Life Committee -- 100%
Americans for Tax Reform -- 95%
National Tax Limitation Committee -- 92%
U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- 88%
League of Private Property Voters -- 94%

RonPaul's record during a century in Congress:
Bills passed -- one
Earmarks -- beyond count

Bill| 1.30.12 @ 3:30PM

Santorum skipped FL, heading to MO, MN. You get be kidding!

Al Adab| 1.30.12 @ 3:47PM

Dai:
Does he have the verve necessary?

Clint| 1.30.12 @ 4:21PM

Tell It To The Gutless RINO-CINO GOP, Israel Firster Smear BundBoy.

"In 2005, 2007, 2009, and again in 2011, Dr.Ron Paul introduced the Sanctity of Life Act, which would have life defined as beginning at conception at the Federal level."

" DR.RON PAUL “PLAN TO RESTORE AMERICA”

SPENDING:

Cuts $1 trillion in spending during the first year of Ron Paul’s presidency, eliminating five cabinet departments (Energy, HUD, Commerce, Interior, and Education), abolishing the Transportation Security Administration and returning responsibility for security to private property owners, abolishing corporate subsidies, stopping foreign aid, ending foreign wars, and returning most other spending to 2006 levels."

http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the.....e-america/

The Tea Party Rebellion Is In Florida.

Dai Alanye| 1.31.12 @ 10:41AM

Poor RonPaul. He introduces hundreds of bills but he's never passed but one, a minor spending measure.

Bill| 1.30.12 @ 2:47PM

Breaking News!
Gingrich wins in FL! Romney is doomed! Gingrich stuns America! The Tea Party Express is coming to FL! Obama is sucked!

Clint| 1.30.12 @ 2:56PM

Place Your Bets.

Al Adab| 1.30.12 @ 3:13PM

My bet gentlemen, is that once again the Republican party will fail the Conservative movement and produce a tepid, lukewarm candidate who will lead us to defeat. We should spew them out of our mouths and find a nominee who stands for Liberty and against statist tyranny.

Mike| 1.30.12 @ 5:15PM

You must be refering to Newt who is a disgusting RINO hoe bought and paid for by a Las Vegas billionaire.

Romney is a weak candidate. Newt is a disaster. There are many Republicans , with the exception of South Carolinian idiots (Lyndsay Graham anyone) who can't and won't vote for Newt.

Bill| 1.30.12 @ 8:06PM

Newt is 500% better than Romney! Take your pick!

PattyMor| 1.31.12 @ 2:34PM

I agree Bill, Newt is a whole lot better than Mitt.
Mitt's record is one of progressiveism, culminating with Romneycare (which he will NOT disavow). And, his advisors have already said Mitt will not reverse it in total. What more evidence do you need? Romney once called himself a moderate, actually a progressive.

While Newt has had his wanderings off the conservative path, his record as Speaker, actually speaks for itself. He had the only balanced budgets in my lifetime--4 years in a row. No wonder the "establishment" doesn't want him elected. They don't want the gravy train to stop.