CBS-Philly:
Santorum’s move to suspend his bid removes the last significant obstacle in Romney’s now all-but-certain march to the Republican presidential nomination.
Rick Santorum to Drop Out of 2012 Race Today
WaPo report: Rick Santorum will announce today that he is suspending his presidential campaign
— Emily Chang (@emilychangtv) April 10, 2012
UPDATE 1:
Santo called Romney today to tell him RT @NBCNews: NBC News confirms: Rick Santorum will suspend his campaign for President. #Decision2012
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettNBCNews) April 10, 2012
UPDATE 2: Live video coverage of Santorum’s announcement. Announcement over. We will post video if we find it.
UPDATE 3: “Romney vs Obama” trending worldwide on Twitter right now.
UPDATE 4: Santorum’s announcement is over. He cites “being behind in the polls” and attending to his daughter’s health for suspending his campaign. He also mentions a campaign that exceeded expectations: won 11 states, and millions of votes, and won more counties than the other candidates. No mention of Romney or the other candidates.
UPDATE 5: Email from Romney Campaign:
I Congratulate Senator Santorum on the Campaign He Ran
Senator Santorum is an able and worthy competitor, and I congratulate him on the campaign he ran. He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation. We both recognize that what is most important is putting the failures of the last three years behind us and setting America back on the path to prosperity
UPDATE 6:
Santorum spox Gidley says Romney has asked Santorum for a sitdown to officially ask for his endorsement
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) April 10, 2012
UPDATE 7: Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich continue their virtually obsolete campaigns.
Statement from Ron Paul spokesman:
Congratulations to Senator Santorum on running such a spirited campaign. Dr. Paul is now the last – and real – conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. We plan to continue running hard, secure delegates, and press the fight for limited, constitutional government in Tampa.
Gingrich 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.
UPDATE 8: Rick Scott, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, Pat Toomey, and Terry Branstad each throw in their endorsements for Mitt Romney.
UPDATE 9: Finally… the video:
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He finally got around to listening to someone other than himself. Whatever sliver of hope the non-Romney forces in the Republican world had are now gone. Mitt Romney = the 2012 GOP Nominee!!!
Rick Santorum was my favored candidate and I am sorry to see him now out of the race. Rick Santorum represents much of what is RIGHT and GOOD with our country. So, slowly, cautiously I move slightly toward the center of my political party of choice. Mitt Romney comes from principled stock, His parents, both solid in business and politics. His Mormon faith, a God, Family and Country upbringing, now makes for me the candidate of choice. Romney has much to offer our nation, if he embraces the principled, Conservative, Constitutional wing of the GOP. The time is now to remove all the splinters, and bind up all wounds and move ahead to defeat Obama in November. If our Republic is to survive and prosper, Obama must go.
Vic …..you were RIGHT!! The numbers didn’t add up for Santorum and he knows it would be Romney now or Romney later. Santorum knows that it is better for the Republican Party if he drops out now and he has little Bella to think of.
It might be unofficial, but the general election starts NOW…Romney…the next POTUS!!
I’ve been glued to the news over the past few hours. Rick is out, thank goodness, however… I’m more thankful the hate ads will be over… at least from Rick. Now, we’ll wait and see what Ron and Newt will do. The Republican Party needs to launch a unified campaign, as of today, with Gov. Romney at the helm. Victory in November starts today !!!
Things he needs to do:
–Lose weight, then have a second round of Puerto Rico paparazzi shots
–Run for governor of PA
–Come back when he has executive experience.
I greatly and severely prefer governors to legislators when considering the presidency.
Can’t resist:
http://thecompetentconservative.com/remember-this/
Santo is such a bore politician. Gald, he’s OUT! His family value messages are good for Pesident @ Catholic colleges/Universities. Under Obama, the society moral decline is very concerning.
I pray for his little girl Bella to feel better.
A bit of contrast for suspension speeches. Romney vs Santorums
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrCvYJ0xlFA
Wow, I don’t even know where to start with these comments. Thanks Annette.
First to Richard: Thank you for your gracious thoughts. Over four years ago, I was heartbroken when Gov. Romney conceded (see Deg’s great video find just above!) to John McCain. He did it too early I felt at the time. But as you watch that speech, he said it was never about him; that all of his effort and work was for our nation and that is why he left the race in February. He went on to help raise $20 million for McCain. I so appreciate your comments and desire to move forward. I think you represent the finest of of those who have backed Senator Santorum and Speaker Gingrich. We are grateful to have you (and others like you reading these comments) in our camp and working with us to defeat Obama. I would encourage you to study Gov. Romney’s record to see how, once elected in that state, governed as a strong conservative. I know we will see the same result from him if elected POTUS.
Graham: I think you are spot-on about getting executive experience.
Luke: This race sure has been incredible. I have followed every presidential campaign very carefully since the Reagan/Carter run. None even comes close to comparing to this primary season. That example you provided here is just one of those great memories!
AfricansforR: Always there for Mitt! Thank you. We all are remembering Bella in our personal and family prayers. Thanks.
Deg: What a great find! I totally forgot how statesman-like it was. I honestly believe that Obama is desperate right now. Typically you do not see “desperate” until the final days of a campaign. I think we are seeing his desperation now. I am so glad Gov. Romney is going to be the person to represent the Republican party in November. His message will be optimistic and will be on point to Obama’s dismal record.
TO ALL: I would like to personally encourage you all to get as many of your friends to visit MRC on a regular basis — and to subscribe. All of us who are writers here are working very hard to bring you the best and latest information to help all Americans make informed choices in November. We need to take back the Senate in a big way. I am really hoping we can see a mandate that blows away the Reagan mandate of 1980.
@Deg—-Thank U for that link—I remember listening to that speech and being as schocked as the rest of the people in that room were, plus. The libs and the media always want to try to convince everyone that Mitt cannot connect with people——They are DEAD WRONG. Mitt is a much better speaker that Obama or Santy. Santorum was BOREING and too long winded, really not qualified to be President. Mitt Rommey has been the best we have, through all of the candidates. His character, integrity, compassion for America and executive experience will make him the BEST President of the USA. Now let’s all get behind him and make sure Obama is a ONE TERM PRESIDENT!!!For our sake and our children and grand children!!!
Plus—Ann Romney is the BEST EVER!!
The slobbering over Santorums withdrawal was very difficult to witness compared to the dignified withdrawal of Governor Romney in ’08. We personally know a close family member of the Romney’s who was with him the night before that speech. He left that night dedicated to fighting on to the convention and at some point in the hours that followed, he personally made the decision to withdraw. He is a great and honorable man and has never received the respect he deserves as a successfule man in his personal, professional and political life. He does not brag, he unifies and focuses on the priorities in order to accomplish positive results. That ability should play well in the general election – he will share a message of unity while Obama continues to divide. The pundits are all wrong about Santorum – the ONLY reason he went as far as he did with so little is because every other competitor dropped out or, in the case of Newt, was neutralized. His heart may be in the right place and he may feel he represents the “common” man, but Santorum does not have the excutive or the business experience to be POTUS and his extreme spending record while Senator speaks volumes about his ability to be fiscally conservative. I saw him as a whining little boy who was willing to throw all of his friends(i.e. the Romney endorsement in ’08) under the bus to get what he wants. We all wish his 3 year old daughter well. His responsibility as a father should trump his aspirations for President with regards to her life.
Those who say they will not support Governor Romney may condemn this great country to the worst years in its history. There are very few people that I know who have lived the family life that Governor Romney has led and therefore represents an excellent role model for family values. Those who really know him, know that he is a true conservative and will always fight for conservative values. Those who doubt that need to study his record in greater detail.
If we all get behind Governor Romney and vote for a majority in the Senate and House, we CAN SAVE AMERICA. I predict Mitt Romney will be one of the best Presidents this country has EVER known. Now let us all circle the wagons, contact friends and family, contribute and work hard alongside him to secure a victory.
Do you think he knew a bunch more endorsements were coming yesterday for Mitt (Jindal, Toomey, Scott, Bransted, etc.) and get out before it got worse? OR, did those endorsements came because Santorum got out??
Santorum was in full throttle mode… I don’t think he thinks about what others are doing as much as we think. All he cared about was winning, and what was necessary to win. Reality hit him after he took a break off the campaign.