Gingrich, Paul, and Santorum Agree to Texas GOP Debate

[Torie]

I guess Rick figured that now that Newt is dead, giving the corpse some oxygen won't reanimate him, and he has more to fear from Mittens, so he is willing to go back into the debate ring, after previously joining Mittens in stiffing Newt and just saying no. Good call Rick.

Mittens no doubt will await developments before deciding. I doubt he will want to listen to Rick talking about him being Obama lite, and Romneycare = Obamacare, etc., unless he figures that the alternative of sending his regrets portends something even less pleasant, be it the resentment of Texas voters or whatever. Maybe he hopes that if he stalls, the debate without his presence will be cancelled. We shall see.

[argentarius]

Santorum will be doing well if there still is a race by then. I think inevitability is finally catching on.

[memphis]

I don't see how Mitt can pass. Telling a large state that you've already won and don't need their votes doesn't seem a wise move.

[I'm JewCon in name only.]

I don't see how Mitt can pass. Telling a large state that you've already won and don't need their votes doesn't seem a wise move.

Like John Sununu said "The significant people have already voted."

[ChairmanSanchez]

Thank God! I miss the debates.

[jmc247]

I don't see this debate as happening if they were demanding one before the April 24th races then perhaps. In fact that would be their smarter move.

If Romney rolls every state in April he is going to win NC, Oregon, Indiania and West Virginia. The only that could be in play for Santorum I suspect are Kentucky and Arkansas given the high evangelical population they have.

[© Tweed the Younger]

good luck w that guys

[All life is a blur of Republicans and meat.]

This is kind of silly. The race is over.

[Meeker]

I highly doubt Mitt will attend.

[jmc247]

This is kind of silly. The race is over.

Maybe they can ask for a second debate before Utah votes as well.

But, yah it's over.

[Senator Napoleon]

I highly doubt Mitt will attend.

[Is JCL in mushy sappy love]

I don't see this debate as happening if they were demanding one before the April 24th races then perhaps. In fact that would be their smarter move.

If Romney rolls every state in April he is going to win NC, Oregon, Indiania and West Virginia. The only that could be in play for Santorum I suspect are Kentucky and Arkansas given the high evangelical population they have.

Indiana is in May. Plus I believe the Tea Party, Christian Conservatives, and Libertarians like me would beg to differ. Our sitting senator Luger is getting a pink slip and the Tea Party will gain another seat in the senate.

[Jayhawker]

I don't see this debate as happening if they were demanding one before the April 24th races then perhaps. In fact that would be their smarter move.

If Romney rolls every state in April he is going to win NC, Oregon, Indiania and West Virginia. The only that could be in play for Santorum I suspect are Kentucky and Arkansas given the high evangelical population they have.

Indiana is in May. Plus I believe the Tea Party, Christian Conservatives, and Libertarians like me would beg to differ. Our sitting senator Luger is getting a pink slip and the Tea Party will gain another seat in the senate.

It'll be close, but I think Lugar will hang on.

Indiana suburbs consist of a large portion of the GOP base in Indiana, and I expect them to vote comfortably for Senator Lugar. These same folks will vote for Governor Romney. Most Republicans I know (rural, conservative area) supported Santorum originally, but are now coming to terms with Romney and will vote for him only because they think we need to start focusing on the general election.

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

If Romney rolls every state in April he is going to win NC, Oregon, Indiania and West Virginia. The only that could be in play for Santorum I suspect are Kentucky and Arkansas given the high evangelical population they have.

How many times have you folks written Santorum off already?

[Is JCL in mushy sappy love]

I don't see this debate as happening if they were demanding one before the April 24th races then perhaps. In fact that would be their smarter move.

If Romney rolls every state in April he is going to win NC, Oregon, Indiania and West Virginia. The only that could be in play for Santorum I suspect are Kentucky and Arkansas given the high evangelical population they have.

Indiana is in May. Plus I believe the Tea Party, Christian Conservatives, and Libertarians like me would beg to differ. Our sitting senator Luger is getting a pink slip and the Tea Party will gain another seat in the senate.

It'll be close, but I think Lugar will hang on.

Indiana suburbs consist of a large portion of the GOP base in Indiana, and I expect them to vote comfortably for Senator Lugar. These same folks will vote for Governor Romney. Most Republicans I know (rural, conservative area) supported Santorum originally, but are now coming to terms with Romney and will vote for him only because they think we need to start focusing on the general election.

I'm confident Romney will not win Howard, Clinton, Tipton, Miami, Cass, Grant, or Tippacanoe counties. Ron Paul may win a county or two. I live in that rural, conservative area you spoke about and there's no love for Mitt amongst the grassroots. At a Tea Party PAC meeting I attended Romney was booed rather heavily. Paul, Santorum and a couple wash outs were cheered much more.

[Lloyd Bentsen's Ghost]

I don't see this debate as happening if they were demanding one before the April 24th races then perhaps. In fact that would be their smarter move.

If Romney rolls every state in April he is going to win NC, Oregon, Indiania and West Virginia. The only that could be in play for Santorum I suspect are Kentucky and Arkansas given the high evangelical population they have.

West Virginia is not Romney country at all, demographically. It's one of the poorest states in the country, has a very low percentage of college degree holders, and you know Santorum is going to basically walk around with a "MY GRANDDADDY WAS A COAL MINER" sign around his neck up there.

But at the same time, the only Republicans who get elected there tend to be moderates (Shelley Moore Capito), and they have a history of voting for wealthy blue-blood types (Jay Rockefeller, Gaston Caperton, etc).

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

At this stage in the race, why would Romney want to spend more time getting attacked on stage by three losers?

It's over.  Get on with the election.

[jmc247]

West Virginia is not Romney country at all, demographically. It's one of the poorest states in the country, has a very low percentage of college degree holders, and you know Santorum is going to basically walk around with a "MY GRANDDADDY WAS A COAL MINER" sign around his neck up there.

But at the same time, the only Republicans who get elected there tend to be moderates (Shelley Moore Capito), and they have a history of voting for wealthy blue-blood types (Jay Rockefeller, Gaston Caperton, etc).

Santorum's campaign messed up badly when it came time to register and set things up at the election board in West Virginia.

There's a reason the Santorum campaign didn't mention West Virginia in its delegate conference call last week

The main factor hurting Santorum, however, is the same problem his campaign has had elsewhere: ballot access. That is, ballot access not so much for him, but for him both statewide and in each of the congressional districts or with getting delegates on the ballot. In West Virginia, the problem is a combination of the two. Santorum is on the ballot, but like Illinois, that vote is meaningless. Primary voters in West Virginia on May 8 will also directly elect delegates -- both at-large and by congressional district.

There are 19 at-large delegate slots in West Virginia. Romney has filed 24 delegates, Gingrich 23 and Paul 19. Santorum has three delegates who his campaign has filed or have both filed and are committed to his candidacy.

Additionally, there are three delegate slots per each of the three West Virginia congressional districts. Romney has filed at least seven delegates in each of the districts, Gingrich has filed at least three delegates in each district (with double that number in one district and over triple the minimum in another), and Paul has filed the minimum full slate of three in each district. Santorum? Well, the former senator filed two delegates in the first congressional district and that is it.

He will not have Santorum delegates on the ballot for the congressional district spots in either the second or third congressional district.

http://frontloading.blogspot.com/2012/03/theres-reason-santorum-campaign-didnt.html

Santorum could sweep the state by a massive margin (which is unlikely given the state may be mostly rural, but candidates with money who spend on ads can win there) and even if he sweeps the state massively he at most can get five of the delegates.

Chances are because of the ballot screw up Santorum does not campaign there, Romney comes by once or twice and spends some money for ads in the three large urban areas of the state and wins in WV.