Donald Trump demonstrated today that he has no qualms about going after one of Mitt Romney’s chief rivals, Rick Santorum.
“There’s nothing – there’s no gift, no X-mas gift, that could be given better than Rick Santorum to the Democrats,” Trump said in a radio interview which aired in Michigan. Democrats, he continued, “are just salivating at that. And, you know, I don’t think they believe it’s going to happen. But boy, would they like it to happen because that would be an easy election.”
Michigan votes one week from Tuesday, and Trump is scheduled to take to the state’s airwaves daily this week to speak on Romney’s behalf.
The perception of electability was a major factor in deciding to endorse Romney, Trump said, and Republicans would be foolish to put forward Santorum as their nominee because “he basically has no chance” of winning.
“Otherwise, what’s the whole purpose, what’s the purpose of working, working, working, going out voting, doing your thing if the person has no chance of getting elected,” Trump said on WSGW Radio of Saginaw, Michigan.
Trump considered a presidential bid himself, then nixed the idea, and in January tossed his endorsement to Mitt Romney. If Santorum were to win the Republican nomination, Trump suggested Monday that he would consider a run.
“If he doesn’t, and I hope that doesn’t happen,” Trump said of a Romney loss, “I would say there’s a good possibility that I would do something, yes.”
The two have not appeared in public campaigning together since the event announcing the endorsement, but made fundraising phone calls together last week.
Shortly after the endorsement, which took place at a Las Vegas hotel owned by Trump ahead of the Nevada caucuses, Santorum suggested his recommendation carries little weight.
“I’m sure he just wanted some publicity for his casino down in Las Vegas,” Santorum said. “I think the people of Nevada are smart enough to figure out who they’re going to vote for and it’s not going to be based on what Donald Trump recommends.”
{Political Ticker/Matzav.com Newscenter}
Hes getting scared that his endorsement is worthless!
Well let’s see. Since Trumps endorsement, Rommney is 0 for 3! Keep it up Donald! You see how influential you are! Idiot!
While I agree with #1 and #2, especially #2’s last sentence, I do not believe that Santorum is electable. I do believe that someone will get into the race as an independent if Santorum is getting crushed in the polls. Someone like Sarah Palin or Jesse Ventura can rally the center-right vote and make Santorum irrelevant if it gets to that point.
Who cares what Trump says, Santourm is the right choice.
# 3, its better that that should happen and Obama should lose.
If hes a electable or not is a good question, but he’s the onley republican that has any chance at beating Obama , more then Romney and certaionly more then Newt.
No one is denying that Santorum is not a pro Israel conservative. The only think is, Obama will crush him with a 1 billion dollar war chest. Santorum wont even know what hit him.
Santorum must be doing something right, if Trump doesn’t like him.
Anonymous (3): whatever the issues that make Santorum unelectable, in your opinion, go double for the people you suggest.
And Ventura’s at a big disadvantage as he won’t fly anymore. (And Ventura? Republican???)