Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is starting to feel the heat from conservatives to get out of the race as conservatives slip away from him to back Rick Santorum.
On Monday, National Review, one of the leading conservative publications of American conservatism since 1955, called upon Gingrich to end his bid for the Republican nomination in favor of Santorum.
While Gingrich won the South Carolina primary last month and led in polls heading into Florida, he faced a barrage of attacks -- many from GOP primary rival Mitt Romney, who went on to win in the Sunshine State -- and placed a distant second. Gingrich stumbled afterward, as Romney won in Maine and Nevada while Santorum triumphed in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.
With Santorum cruising in the polls in Michigan -- which, along with Arizona, holds its primary on Feb. 28 -- the path to victory for Gingrich appears to be closing.
Two national polls released on Monday show how Santorum has eclipsed Gingrich with conservative voters.
The Gallup tracking polll finds Santorum in front with 32 percent, followed by Romney with 30 percent, Gingrich with 16 percent and Ron Paul trailing with 8 percent. The poll of 1,162 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents was taken from Feb. 8-12 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
Santorum also leads a poll released by the Pew Research Group, this time taking 30 percent, followed by Romney with 28 percent, Gingrich with 17 percent and Paul with 12 percent. The Pew poll finds Santorum leaving Gingrich in the dust with conservative voters and tea party supporters. Santorum takes 36 percent of conservatives surveyed, followed by Romney with 25 percent and Gingrich with 17 percent. Santorum also leads with tea party supporters with 42 percent, followed by Romney with 23 percent and Gingrich with 15 percent. The poll of 552 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents was taken Feb. 8-12 and had a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.
Gingrich attempted to get back in the game Monday by releasing two new ads stressing his conservative credentials and what is at stake in the 2012 elections.
2012 is the most important election in this country since 1860, Gingrich says in one ad. Next year, we will decide whether the disastrous policies of class-warfare, bureaucratic socialism, radical judges, and bureaucrats who treat us as subjects rather than citizens will be continued in office. Or whether we will decisively repudiate an 80-year drift to the left: a drift in our newsrooms; a drift in our colleges and universities; a drift with our judges; and a drift among elected politicians.
The Gingrich camp also forwarded an op-ed piece by actor and conservative activist Chuck Norris where the action star explained why he backed the former congressional leader over Santorum. Norris had been a prominent backer of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee during the 2008 election cycle.
In the meantime, Romney looked to steal a march on Gingrich in the former congressional leaders backyard as he unveiled the backing of three Republicans from Georgia, including former state Attorney General Mike Bowers.
My growing support in Georgia is proof that my conservative message is resonating with Georgia voters, said Mitt Romney. With the help of my team, we will defeat President Obama, repeal Obamacare, cut government spending, and bring jobs back and turn around our economy.
Georgia holds its primary on March 6.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
