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Karl Rove on Santorum's decision to drop out of 2012 race

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    Unofficial start of the general election?

  • Duration 12:20
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Hundreds and careless Bob Beckel Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld all right just yesterday we were asking if the fat.

Lady was singing but we're talking about -- Newt Gingrich was about to drop out of the race for the GOP nomination.

But in surprise announcement just minutes ago Rick Santorum step aside.

Let's bring in now Karl Rove also known as the architect for reaction -- the news Karl good to have you thanks that's revenue surprise.

Yeah I thought especially after the events of late last week where he met with a group of a conservative leaders including Richard victory to launched out on -- behalf over the weekend.

That he was gonna stay until Pennsylvania but I suspect that they've campaign which literally consists of Santorum has Stanley.

And to close advisors one guy name John brave vendors -- other guy named mark Rogers.

Probably came to realization they were in danger of losing Pennsylvania at least -- delegate count even if they wanna.

The does the beauty contest and so decided to -- the record -- I think Bob.

I think -- -- -- he -- those suspend -- campaign Manger in debt and you keep going keep it to get paid but.

The titular head number dangerous -- -- face of personal bad count and not just Pennsylvania which I think perhaps you real child -- it.

Both dollars and perhaps a popular vote.

He is a guy you can you know not argue this is very close to his family and his daughter just getting out of the hospital.

I think that hitting kind of hard.

And I think in the end.

When he looks at it did you wanna put up -- the -- you -- -- best -- in his daughter being -- the reality -- -- -- and Newt -- supposedly getting out on Sunday.

And then all of a sudden.

Now new to back it says it's -- classic new he goes back and sets -- we take say by way is two man race.

Not like it was a weekend for resurrection.

Yeah.

I'll be very very good and it's good that you can't count drama -- the -- strike on exactly in his later on an executive month.

Incidentally I think you write about I mean think about this New York.

Connecticut Rhode Island -- -- world were all voting at the end of the month he -- suffered a loss in the Wyoming.

A primary and -- convince state convention and it was not going to be pleasant month for -- was gonna follow you know you fall probably another 10000 and movies.

-- pleasant for new Gingrich's at least -- some of -- -- Ron Paul being funny it's.

It was just her first Santorum -- this certain point we said -- for a -- this race been over for a long time the problem is super provision kept gone.

And for Santorum.

He had his best strength there you know -- had a good editor Romney Romney weathered his was worst month came out all right I was about to win the big states batted for him.

-- get a record that -- is it's not.

He deserves a lot of credit I don't think anyone would've thought that he did this well I mean Rick Santorum was the underdog underdog and he went on to when I -- eleven states.

But when you look at how he lost Pennsylvania last time around eighteen points -- -- he had to be saying himself.

Another loss in my home state so about my legacy and also within the Republican Party how much good faith do you lose by continuing to stay and so -- askew.

-- is Newt Gingrich.

Once I just got an update from his campaign that that is calendar for the rest of the week.

He has a very active counter what is he doing.

Well look I think he's gonna he's four and -- half million dollars in debt being challenged on Sunday which probably means he's six and a half for seven million dollars -- debt.

And so he's gonna stay in the race and and -- to be -- -- he wants to be.

A player and the more delegates he can win -- hope and I think.

That he ends up being in a place where he gets a few more delegates becomes a bigger player I will say you're absolutely right Rick Santorum said -- -- -- -- he said it was most improbable.

A presidential -- he went a long way would not much I mean not much in the way of money not what went public support.

Now what much in the way of endorsements of -- of colleagues who served with him -- -- people back it was guts and adrenaline and caffeine and he did pretty darn good Catholic.

-- it's good to see you we go back a long time when you ran my student court judge.

Campaign is Serra high school which I won handily finally admitted but I didn't have a leader to actually got out what happened period -- well that's because those German art films I made exactly is exactly vetoed everything that we are a couple guys found that on -- so yeah.

And I have a it's hard when you're one of the art films no but is in the last night -- when I ran for office was to help my school it was to help me and I'm getting the feeling that.

Like you say you know dot -- -- didn't lose he won here because essentially went from senator who lost badly to basically a voice of the party.

It's -- what we're seeing outsourcing people run in a way to enhance their brand with really no intention of winning at all.

Well I think there's some truth to that but I think that there comes a moment when they realize -- My gosh I could do this Armenia Newt Gingrich I think started out saying look I just wanna be a player in this yeah I of the ancillary advantage of -- the principal advantage of -- and ancillary advantage of helping to sell more books.

Be a commentator and so forth and then he wakes up and says -- -- -- -- same -- happens to Santorum always -- -- I could be player I could be a contender yet and it did you know there's something about it to get you go on and particularly when you're in an effort like this and again.

His campaign is too long -- aides and his family and you're right to say was probably over some -- but nobody really -- -- -- -- people around him and said you've got a shot.

It you know the -- lot of sympathy for cents harmony and gave him a nice speech and who receive it let's not underestimate the damage that both he.

And Newt Gingrich did Mitt Romney along the way this race in any other year had not -- -- affects his freshman but over a month and a half ago.

And Romney suffered some pretty big blows from these guys now the question is.

How active will they be my guess is Santorum will be active Newt when Newt says he's going to be actively behind.

I've never seen knew exactly -- anybody but Newton and my guess is you must go to that convention gets platform committee that's what he lost.

He can't be journal platform committee to -- Republican Party rules just say senator house member and they alternate puts of his daughters on the -- -- Critical question suspending your campaign is is does that mean they have to do they have to pay that debt because I'd love to suspend my bar bill over Atlantic and exactly not guilty stays there forever.

I you have to Whittle down have to make it you have to make affirmative effort but it's like you and your bar bill that you can stretch it out forever and ever -- or wait a minute but I have tea that's another reason why won't handle your next campaign for -- -- -- -- once again you've added another piece of -- Topple into the in the -- -- you -- fund raiser tonight for you -- here on the -- -- -- -- this a friend of yours.

Ed Gillespie announces he's gonna join the Romney campaign that have anything to do with Rick Santorum saying.

Maybe it's a pretty former -- And I'm proud to share friendship with that with Carl let other people here at the table and Ed is one of the smartest people and -- what I saw that as Republican.

I thought okay if Romney is going to be the nominee then you can ask for a better team player than Ed Gillespie.

And as an advisor I wanted to ask you Carl about that I don't think yet and commutes and time getting out necessarily I think Bob I hit the reasons why.

-- but if you're Romney and Santorum said today he won more counties than all the other candidates.

What should Romney do or say in the next few weeks to try to bring over people who may be voted for Santorum or Gingrich or even Ron Paul in particular.

What is -- need to do or say there.

Get him over on his site.

Well I think I think even if there is comments today there which were you know courteous and and positive words Santorum good I think he needs to in order bring those people aboard.

He needs to keep this fire focused and Obama I think that unites all those people whether there.

Gingrich people view Bachmann people Santorum people what is it as they wanna get over -- Obama out -- there and a sharp and clear message that.

Helps lay the foundation for the general election -- you know aimed it at at the swing voters.

It's gonna is gonna motivate.

You know that the demographics in this race played themselves out pretty consistently throughout the round he had his particular people who were.

If you wanna call dished out like that we're done -- and and the the very conservative base voted against him consistently -- its place.

They're not gonna vote against him obviously they're gonna vote against Barack Obama but here's the question.

They supply the energy they supply a lot of the vote.

If in Ohio where -- southern Ohio has a very large evangelical population of voters for the Republicans if 5% on -- home because they don't want Romney.

They're not excited about round if they don't work that hard that's the real fear -- -- -- not.

I'm gonna vote for Barack Obama but the question is -- -- gonna vote for Mitt Romney with the enthusiasm they did for example George Bush yeah hello look I can answer that question every bit itself.

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