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Watch the ‘FOX News Sunday' panel, Brit Hume, AB Stoddard, Bill Kristol and Charles Lane, as they discuss the 2012 GOP battle for the nomination, in...
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Welcome to FOX News Sunday panel plus what -- -- -- AB Stoddard Bill Kristol and -- line.
Chuck we left off talking about the GOP nomination battle.
Do you sense.
That there is -- Newt Gingrich and road someplace.
Down the wrote.
Well I don't know after watching that last clip you had on where -- was a sort of expanding on his personal feelings about the weather and so forth it seems like he's just enjoying life as he said and since -- running but.
You've got to believe at some point he runs out of money and he's.
Aware that this is really not ending for him in anything but a defeat.
Unless he is so burned up that the way Mitt Romney treated him earlier in the campaign that he's in it to just deny -- to -- Is it possible that more votes go away from Romney with him in the race.
That if he gets out of the race in other words some portion of Gingrich supporters would -- to Romney if he's still in the race.
-- doesn't get those -- That's some some percentage would -- of course that the governor Romney that I think sent from what would welcome them.
And I think once we Begin had a winner take -- partners for fiscal third with Wisconsin.
And Maryland but Wisconsin about law -- central would have a chance I think he -- it would be very helpful -- -- out of the race if you just got to assume that in Michigan and Ohio Santorum lost by 113 points or one point.
If Gingrich hadn't been taking.
121450%.
Central would have had a better chance.
So with the demographics and you look at the county by county -- and then the exit polls that the Gingrich -- look more like Santorum votes when you pull them.
This sort of 5050 so it's hard to tell how in the real time -- in the deal dynamic of real campaign.
I think Santorum needs an April -- say.
So what I want choice governor Romney has a distinguished record on his side of the party I've record here let's debate.
And I think that's better -- to be better for him to get Gingrich out I personally think but -- he chooses to Canada or not.
Anderson voters won't vote for someone at some point if he does have some chance in Mississippi and Alabama the -- -- Gingrich had a one point it wasn't crazy to go to the polls and think -- about the Gingrich.
I just think from now on we'll see Gingrich -- vote share declining and I think that will help -- -- AB we talk about the exit polls in the very conservative voters but even on broad Republicans Gallup had a poll this past week.
35% of Republicans say they'll that are enthusiastic about round.
35% compared to you look at here.
2008.
Early February 47%.
Of Republicans brought Republicans were enthusiastic about John McCain.
So is there an enthusiasm gap in Mitt Romney or is it just because there's more people in this race.
No Mitt Romney is having a terrible time winning that the base of the party that's the mean that that's.
That wasn't the case from the rear corner when he was John McCain when he was John McCain how to really wonderful story and was and how to and an interest in coalition.
Of these sort of I'm good government's anti pork barrel spending people with veterans with so -- party moderates it Mitt Romney doesn't have an enthusiastic following.
People are with them because they believe he's ultimately the best to -- the president a lot of voters in exit polls say I think he's the candidate is most likely.
To be President Obama -- vote for somebody else.
But what's interesting about Santorum and Gingrich is that.
Richard land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said this week something -- and he said.
You know I think that is ultimately better for Romney if he has -- one on one -- -- with a real conservative like Santorum.
-- that if he wins and he probably will conservatives will feel like to have their shot and don't come home and be with him more enthusiastically at the grass roots level helping get out the -- setter up.
But at the same time look at the social conservative establishment if you will.
They met a few months ago in taxes there -- some accusations of ballot stuffing after the -- people went to the airport and call each other cheaters they never got behind Rick Santorum to help them.
Now they're trying to and it's -- for a.
You know.
If you look at this the results.
Become overwhelmed.
For a guy who can't attract his party's base.
Runners a million votes ahead million.
He's ahead he has more delegates than the other candidates combined.
It's almost politically incorrect these days to say that Romney is winning the fact is Romney's winning and he's winning pretty big now.
Anything can happen politics straight -- projects as a very dangerous and I.
This and I'm not making any predictions but I think they road -- for any other candidate is exceedingly difficult and the effort to deny him a majority.
Looks collection and he's now openly suggesting -- that.
Everyone will come home once he's running against President Obama because ultimately getting President Obama out of office.
Is the ultimate goal I believe he's right about that actually I think that -- The conservatives and Republicans in this country are.
Dead set against -- second Obama.
Term and when this situation crystallizes as Obama vs a Republican almost any Republican.
I cannot believe that those people will not go to the polls in pretty large numbers for the GOP nominee.
What that might mean for when he actually gets to be president if he does Romney is another story but let's also not forget he's gonna have the opportunities -- nominee to put -- running mate on the ticket.
That could player or patrol in reassuring the conservative base as well.
So I think you know a lot of this discussion is gonna turn -- be -- irrelevant by November when the -- choice is crystal.
You know ex -- -- -- still be treated base was open between the Republican nominee it.
President Obama in the previous campaigns with the incumbent has been defeated for reelection Carter 1980 -- W bush in 92.
Those debates were important Reagan's famous one debate with Carter -- last week of the campaign where he held zone much to the surprise of have a some establishment and Clinton did well actually in the debates against President Bush and President Bush or even a little more out of touch unfairly and -- -- to looked at his watch all that.
Offer me the question is is is it's hard to know governor -- is good debater.
On the other -- I do think senator Santorum us the subject to a when he says I can make the contrast with President Obama sharper.
And make the case for why we need to replace the whole Obama administration way of looking at things more clearly.
Then governor Romney but I think that's the way to think when I agree that either Republican could win either Republican could lose and it the dynamics of general election campaign -- very hard to prevent.
It's very usual for the debates.
Presidential fall debates to make much difference until hasn't become -- if it happened it happened a couple of times the Reagan debate -- -- cited as a good example I don't think.
The bush Clinton debates would decide who was decisive in -- election.
Was -- country was still suffering the after effects of a recession.
They blamed -- on bush they didn't think it conditions were disagreeable to the electorate and they went for the America that's not mostly out works.
Thank you panel please check -- with us throughout the week.
And we'll see you next Sunday when Chris comes back.
