Rick Santorum thinks a Newt Gingrich exit from the race would create a "better opportunity to make sure that [Republicans] nominate a conservative," in the Fall. However, the former Pennsylvania senator stopped short of calling for Gingrich's withdrawal.
"I didn't ask Speaker Gingrich to get in. I'm not going to ask him to get out.," Santorum said. He hopes that Gingrich's exit would galvanize Republican voters to unite behind Santorum as the lone conservative alternative to Mitt Romney.
Santorum also made the case that the delegate math is not as steeped in favor of Romney as commentators make it out to be. "This isn't a mathematical formula. This race has a tremendous amount of dynamics," Santorum said.
He cited the fact that many of Mitt Romney's awarded delegates are uncommitted and can change to support Santorum. "These numbers are going to change dramatically," he said.
Also, Governors Martin O'Malley (D-MD) and Bob McDonnell (R-VA) joined me to weigh in on the 2012 race. O'Malley panned the Republican field for focusing more on getting votes, rather than trying to fix the country's problems.
"Let's be honest, there's been a lot more time spent pandering to the extreme right wing ideologues of the new Republican party than has been spent talking about jobs and economy," O'Malley said.
McDonnell, a Mitt Romney supporter who has been mentioned as a possible VP choice, attacked President Obama for bringing "division and malaise" to the country. When asked whether or not he wanted to be president, McDonnell responded "No. I got the job held by Jefferson and Henry. I love being governor of Virginia."
You can watch our entire program on our website, including our political roundtable that addressed the question of whether or not civility is gone in American politics today. I was joined by MSNBC’s Al Sharpton, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Washington Post’s EJ Dionne, and the Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan.
We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
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Worse interview Gregory has ever given was with Santorum today. Most all the questions were softball, and he let Santorum rattle on beyond the answer called for over and over. For example, incredible that not one question about Limbaugh and whether Santorum was prepared to condemn Limbaugh in any way, or what Santorum's wife's reaction was to it all. Nothing about foreign policy was asked. Just questions like 'how do you think you will do against Romney'. Meet the Press has traditionally invited incisive questions. Gregory is getting lazy now, and his interviews are increasingly casual conversation.
Is it me or was I watching a "mini me" of Romney on today's show? The Govenor of VA? He didn't want to talk about the issues either. After every question asked he (the VA guy and Santorum) would redirect the discussion to their prepared pr talking notes. Like a "Stepford Canidate". It is frustrating because I really want to know what these people think on issues and it is like I hear one thing on (what I consider) conservative media, and another for liberal media. Do they not think that we (Independents) are listening and watching? No more pablum Republicans!
The worst program I have seen the past year!!! David very "SOFT" on pushing back on all Republicans!!!! They avoided ALL tough questions and David let them get away with mistruths and avoidance of issues. Virginia Governor "schooled David" not the Meet the Press we normally expect, a HUGE disappointment!! Santorum should thank NBC for the FREE ADOP!!!
You are right. I just watch the recording. I cannot see why David did not ask some of the most pertinent questions. I would like to know what kind of jobs has Gov. McDonnald created? I think if they are minimum wage jobs then that may worsen the economy rather than help it. Just like President Bush that created a lot of military jobs, which increase our debt and whose wages came out of our coffers. Low wage jobs create more poor who may need help from government in order to survive. Republicans have been doing that in order to say the president have put a lot on welfare and food stamps.
A FOX NEWS approach today!!!Are your Ratings slipping so Meet the Press changing to accommodate Republican "spin"?
I would have hammered the abortion and birth control issue more. There are a lot of women voters that would like more info on the Republican agenda respecting those subjects.
Guys you are Right,for the first time on'MEET THE PRESS"shows a pure SOFTNESS and WORST of David.In presidential campaign every expression of opinion has a motive and a purpose, and it takes at least two opinions to make CONTROVERSY@
Marsha Blackburn Voted FOR:
Omnibus Appropriations, Special Education, Global AIDS Initiative, Job Training, Unemployment Benefits, Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, Agriculture Appropriations, FY2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations, U.S.-Singapore Trade, U.S.-Chile Trade, Supplemental Spending for Iraq & Afghanistan, Flood Insurance Reauthorization , Prescription Drug Benefit, Child Nutrition Programs, Surface Transportation, Job Training and Worker Services, Agriculture Appropriations, Foreign Aid, Debt Limit Increase, Fiscal 2005 Omnibus Appropriations, Vocational/Technical Training, Supplemental Appropriations, UN “Reforms.” Patriot Act Reauthorization, CAFTA, Katrina Hurricane-relief Appropriations, Head Start Funding, Line-item Rescission, Oman Trade Agreement, Military Tribunals, Electronic Surveillance, Head Start Funding, COPS Funding, Funding the REAL ID Act (National ID), Foreign Intelligence Surveillance, Thought Crimes “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, Peru Free Trade Agreement, Economic Stimulus, Farm Bill (Veto Override), Warrantless Searches, Employee Verification Program, Body Imaging Screening, Patriot Act extension., Supplemental Appropriations, Patriot Act Extension.
Marsha Blackburn Voted AGAINST:
Ban on UN Contributions, eliminate Millennium Challenge Account, WTO Withdrawal, UN Dues Decrease, Defunding the NAIS, Iran Military Operations defunding Iraq Troop Withdrawal, congress authorization of Iran Military Operations, Withdrawing U.S. Soldiers from Afghanistan, Libya Troop Withdrawal.
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
See her “blatantly unconstitutional” votes at :
mickeywhite.blogspot.com/2009/09/tn-congressman-marsha-blackburn-votes.html
Mickey
Mickey
take a big DRINK man!!!!!! you need something!!
Life is short,and dinner parties are LONG,when diving into a POLITICAL intimacy on the very EARLIEST chance.People are justly impatient of PROSING about ELECTION,when they meet a new candidate,perhaps a strange, SOUL@
I too thought Mr. Gregory went way to easy on Santorum this morning. Rick has said some pretty outrageous stuff lately and to dismiss it all by letting him slip into his 'my wife straighten me out' was a cop out. My God, this man is running for President of the United States and he thinks public schools are a bad idea!
Disgusting free political advert by Santorum today. Gregory is such a intellectual light weight how could he have been given he seat the great Tim Russert sat in? I am not a political expert and I knew Santorum spun or outright lied and Gregory just sat there and nodded like he thought it was all fact. He really needs to go work for FOX! So many questions he could have asked he just sat there and let Santorum blather on!