Morning Jolt - So Long, Santorum

NRO Newsletters . . .

Morning Jolt

. . . with Jim Geraghty

April 11, 2012

In This Issue . . .

1. So Long, Santorum

2. As for That Other Guy . . .

3. Obama Delegate Marion Barry: Brought to You by Those Tolerant Democrats

4. Addendum

Before we begin, if you're on Twitter and not following @jimgeraghty or @NRO, why not?

Enjoy.

Jim

1. So Long, Santorum

After a long ride, overcoming enormous odds, Rick Santorum's presidential campaign has come to . . . a suspension. As we all know, suspended campaigns almost never get reactivated. The only one that comes to mind is Ross Perot's in 1992.

In fact, Santorum conceded, suggesting that a future reactivation is not in the cards.

After calling Mitt Romney to concede the race for the Republican nomination, Rick Santorum suspended his campaign Tuesday during a press conference in Pennsylvania, his home state.

"We will suspend our campaign effective today," Santorum said surrounded by members of his family in Gettysburg.

Santorum spent the weekend off the campaign trail with his 3-year-old daughter, Bella, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, after she was rushed to the hospital Friday.

"We made a decision over the weekend that, while this presidential race for us is over, for me, and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting," he said.

Few thought Santorum would make it this far.

Our Robert Costa reports:

"It wasn't easy," says Mike Biundo, Rick Santorum's campaign manager, in a phone call this afternoon, moments after his boss announced his departure from the Republican presidential race. "But it was a family decision," he says, and for the former Pennsylvania senator, that made it easy.

Santorum spent the weekend in northern Virginia, mostly at the hospital with his wife, Karen, as they cared for their young daughter, Bella, who has a severe chromosomal disorder. Bella, to the family's relief, was released on Monday night. By then, however, the decision had already been made.

"With Bella in the hospital and it being Easter weekend, it became a time for reflection and prayers," Biundo says. Santorum huddled with his children, he spoke with a handful of senior advisers. Beyond that, he kept mum, and there was a strong push within the inner circle to keep the decision from leaking.

"We thought long and hard about it," Biundo says. "We took a look at the delegate math and the path forward." Many senior aides were ready to make a serious play for Pennsylvania, Santorum's home state. Santorum, Biundo says, appreciated their commitment, but "he told everyone that his first responsibility has always been to his family, so it's time to suspend things."

There wasn't any internal disagreement, Biundo says. John Brabender, Santorum's chief strategist, was on the same page as the senator.

You have to respect that.

Michelle Malkin:

Rick Santorum fought hard, he fought well, and he gave voice to a large contingent of grass-roots conservative activists across the country who wanted a candidate who lived the values he preached. He held Mitt Romney's feet to the fire on health care, challenged Newt Gingrich's green flirtations and past support for the individual mandate, and took on Ron Paul's foreign policy extremism. His presence improved everyone else's game -- and that will serve the GOP ticket well this fall, whoever ends up on it. Thankfully, Sen. Santorum's daughter Bella has been released from the hospital after being admitted this weekend.

Neo-Neocon:

The last non-Romney standing has been defeated -- and that leaves Romney, standing. (Ron Paul remains standing as well, but he was never really the non-Romney alternative, he was always a phenomenon unto himself. And Newt Gingrich is kind of lying down.)

I think Romney has shown us a couple of things about his personality. One is that he's not afraid of a fight, or even fighting dirty if need be. Another is that he's very organized. A third is that he isn't easily rattled or disheartened. All those things will come in handy for the main event.

2. As for That Other Guy . . .

So, how is the guy who finished behind Santorum responding to the news? Gingrich's statement:

Rick has waged a remarkable campaign. His success is a testament to his tenacity and the power of conservative principles.

I am committed to staying in this race all the way to Tampa so that the conservative movement has a real choice. I humbly ask Senator Santorum's supporters to visit Newt.org to review my conservative record and join us as we bring these values to Tampa. We know well that only a conservative can protect life, defend the Constitution, restore jobs and growth and return to a balanced budget.

It seems as if Santorum's withdrawal set off a domino effect of delayed Romney endorsements. Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal:

"Congratulations to Governor Romney on winning a hard fought race, I look forward to supporting him in retiring President Obama," Jindal said in a statement. "I'd also like to congratulate Senator Santorum for running a strong race and for making the difficult decision to step aside at this time. It's time for all Republicans to focus their energies on the fall campaign which will give Americans a fundamental choice between Obama's lurch toward European style big government and the Republican alternative of a thriving private sector with a smaller government.

Pennsylvania senator Pat Toomey:

I am proud to endorse Governor Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee for president. I am confident Gov. Romney will be a great president and will return our country to the conservative principles that make our nation great.

I also congratulate Senator Santorum on a hard fought primary race. He put up a valiant fight and deserves to be commended for his spirited effort.

Now is the time for conservatives to rally around Gov. Romney and help deliver a victory in Pennsylvania and America this November.

Our country stands at a crossroads. In the U.S. Senate, I work with my colleagues every day on trying to solve our fiscal problems, but President Obama has insisted on job-destroying tax increases and regulations. With our national debt ballooning and our economy struggling to recover, we need to elect a conservative president who is ready to tackle our nation's challenges on day one. With his extensive private sector experience, his knowledge of economic issues, and his gubernatorial track record, Gov. Romney is exactly the kind of leader our country needs to solve our fiscal crisis and restore American prosperity.

David Limbaugh, tongue in cheek: "As I've been saying for the last six months, I adore Mitt Romney."

Jonah: "I for one welcome our new Massachusetts overlords."

To everyone who is still feeling some hesitation about Romney, I understand his campaign has offered this warm, generous, inviting video message to all remaining holdouts.

3. Obama Delegate Marion Barry: Brought to You by Those Tolerant Democrats

Washington-based Democratic consultant Chuck Thies points out the unpleasant truth for his party:

Last week, while delivering a speech after winning the Democratic Primary for Ward 8 on the D.C. Council, Barry said, "We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops. They ought to go. I'm going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too."

Leaders from the District and around the region decried the remarks.

And that is the extent of the consequences Barry is likely to face. Just another few days in the spotlight for the mayor-for-life.

But there should be consequences.

And there can be.

District and national Democratic leaders should call for Barry to forfeit his seat as a Convention delegate.

Party leaders might be reluctant to cause a stir today -- messing with Barry is like kicking a beehive -- but they should not ignore the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

In the Dish, I cautioned: "In the summer of 2008 much of the nation and most of the press corps were going gaga over Barack Obama. The news that came out Denver was all about Obama. This year, reporters may be looking for a sideshow [. . . D]o not send Barry to the convention."

In other words, Democrats can deal with the somewhat awkward situation of having to push Barry aside now, or risk a colossal embarrassment on the national stage just two months before Election Day.