Marathon Pundit: It's over: Santorum suspending campaign

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

It's over: Santorum suspending campaign

Santorum in Arlington Heights, IL
March 16, 2012

Rick Santorum just announced in historic Gettsyburg, Pennsylvania that he is suspending his presidential campaign--effectively ending his effort to win the White House.

On Fox News Sunday two days ago Newt Gingrich signaled that his campaign will move to the background. And sorry Ron Paul supporters, your guy never had a chance to win the presidency.

But I have to give Santorum credit. When I saw him speak at the Illinois Republican Party's Reagan Centennial Banquet last February, I viewed the likelihood of his becoming a solid contender for the presidency as an absurdity. He came close--and in the GOP that means a lot. Second-place finishers often become the Republican standard-bearer four or eight years later.

To my many conservative friends: Now is the time to get behind the Republican presumptive nominee--Mitt Romney and, as another former presidential candidate, Michele Bachmann loves to say, "make Barack Obama a one-term president."

"Miracle after miracle, this race was improbable," Santorum just said. Yes it was.

Well done, Rick.

"We are not done fighting," he added later in his address.

Gettysburg Address Monument, Palos Park, IL

UPDATE 2:00pm CDT: Perhaps Gingrich is not fading away. He just issued this 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.