Mark Halperin: Romney to drop out at CPAC–UPDATE: IT’S OVER, HE’S OUT
- Posted by Beth on February 7th, 2008 filed in 2008 election, Candidates, General, Mitt Romney, Politics
Romney’s speech to CPAC is on RIGHT NOW.
Plans to say during CPAC speech: “If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or (Barack) Obama would win….”
On FNC, said it’s “triple-sourced.”
Live CPAC feed HERE.
Byron York, noting a “dramatic dropoff” in the amount of Romney email in the last 24 hours:
A few moments ago, I spoke to someone in the Romney camp. Would I be crazy to read that into the email traffic? “You would not be crazy to read that into it,” he said. “There have been a lot of discussions going on about whether there is a path to victory, and not wanting to look destructive at what might be the end. You are reading the right thing into it.”
Transcript of his speech as he’s giving it is HERE.
I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters… many of you right here in this room… have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.
THAT’S IT! He’s just said it.
I will continue to stand for conservative principles; I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face evil extremism!
Okay, now: What’s Huckabee going to do? It’d look pretty crass for him to stay in it now, if you ask me.
Laura Ingraham eating crow right now, after her Mac-bashing introduction of Romney. Heh.
Fausta is at CPAC, along with the bloggers she has listed here.
CPAC blog posts are aggregated here.
UPDATE: Romney made the decision last night.
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrenstrom says the decision to withdraw was made last night. Earlier in the day, Romney had held meetings with senior staffers, looking at options. At a later meeting with the entire staff, they enthusiastically encouraged him to stay in the race.
So he went home last night to write his CPAC speech, and Eric says it became a “farewell speech”
Romney wanted to do what was right for the party. Though he still saw a pathway to nomination, he was concerned about a protracted struggle within the party at a time when the country is at war.
Romney hopes today’s decision unifies the party, his family supported the decision, and he will endorse McCain if he is the nominee.
UPDATE: VIDEO from Romney and McCain, via Hot Air:
PaulW says:
Huckabee could well stay in the race on principle, as the last ‘conservative’ standing…
But it’s over. If there’s anything about the Republicans, it’s that there’s an established order of things. Once you know who the frontrunner is, you back the frontrunner and let the Dems self-destruct.
Terrye says:
The Anchoress says it might all be a ploy to get a third party or a brokered convention. I hope she is wrong. I wonder if there is VP talk for Romney…he is not all that old, in 8 years he could run on his own.
Lord Bitememan says:
Re: Huckabee. . . I read on CNN the report regarding Romney dropping. It said McCain called Romney and gave the usual pleasantries, but also that he agreed to meet with Romney soon. Meh. The real juicy piece was that the same McCain advisor source for this also said they were going to call Huckabee, but was mum on the substance of that conversation. I’m thinking McCain is probably getting Huckabee to lay off in the coming primaries in exchange for a vp slot. There might, however, be some deal-making going on with regards to position on the ticket, cabinet appointments, and party unity.
Terrye, I don’t think McCain is looking for 8 years. I think he will be an unproclaimed 1 termer. Assuming he wins, I think he knows 80 is not a good age for being in the White House. I think he would come in, advance whatever agenda he can, leave open the possibility that he could run for another term, but remove himself from the running in 2012 early enough for the Republicans to get together another nominations contest. Romney and Huckabee, assuming they can keep themselves relevant in this time, are definate favorites for that primary race.
PaulW says:
It is still far too early to talk VP candidates, and McCain is going to go with whomever he is most comfortable with (which may be the Fred! as they are known associates, or it maybe one of the other big names in the party that didn’t run in this primary).
Beth says:
I’m thinking Tom Coburn or Mark Sanford. MAYBE Tim Pawlenty.
JR says:
The deal is coming folks. Expect Romney to at least be offered the VP slot first. The odds on that have been reducd after his poor showing in the South, but he’s still the odds on favorite. Huck’s Southern triumphs put him in the second position for it, but he may be too evangelical for most voters. I fully anticipate Sam Brownback and Mark Sanford to at least get interviews for it. If Romney doesn’t get the VP nod, he would be the strong candidate for Treasury.