An Intervention? Let's Hope

CNN reported today that Rick Santorum met privately with conservative leaders in a meeting somewhere in Virginia.  A source close to the Santorum campaign claims that the meeting "was requested by conservative leaders to discuss the best path moving forward in terms of getting conservatives to stop Mitt Romney."

While I do believe that conservatives leaders wanted to meet with Santorum behind closed doors, I would be willing to be that their motives were much different than a "private strategy session" to help Santorum secure the nomination.  The time for that meeting has long passed.

Image from USA Today, Jae C. Hong, AP

The source was however, quick to stress to CNN that the meeting "does not have anything to do about Rick getting out of the race." (Click to read CNN article).

Uh huh. Sure it doesn't.

I picture that this meeting was actually quite serene, non-confrontational and with very little need for conversation.  I assume that leaders (most likely leaders who have already endorsed Romney) simply, gently and directly pointed Santorum to the obvious writing on the wall: "Romney is the GOP nominee."

Time will tell if Santorum got it.

*** 

After Tuesday's significant losses by Santorum in Wisconsin (a state where he led a few weeks ago), Maryland (where he lost 49% - 28%) and Washington DC (where Santorum didn't even get his name on the ballot), Romney walked away with 86 delegates while Santorum gained a total of 6.

Yet, that night, Santorum stood before cameras, blatantly avoided the traditional words of congratulations to the winner--Mitt Romney, somehow avoided thanking his supporters and then boldly claimed that it was only "halftime."  He said, "Who's ready to charge out of the locker room in Pennsylvania for a strong second half?"

Halftime?

Charles Krauthammer--an American Pulitzer Prize winning syndicated columnist and political commentator said, "Santorum said in his speech that it is halftime.  It's not halftime.  It's the 4th quarter, there's two minutes left and he's out of timeouts.  It's really over.  He should courageously drop out before Pennsylvania...I think the general election started today."

Who is his helping Santorum?  Where is his senior advisor?

Image from AP Photo, Eric Gay

Isn't anyone at the Santorum camp aware that the Santorum surge has ended?  He is losing and losing badly.  Does Santorum realize that it will be catastrophic to his future political ambitions if he stays in this race just a little too long?

More importantly, hasn't anyone convinced him that destroying Mitt Romney's reputation not only accelerates an Obama 2nd term, but poisons the water of a much-needed Romney endorsement down the road?

***

At this point, it is clear that Santorum is placing all his eggs in the "Pennsylvania Basket," but if he is not careful, it could prove to be disastrous for his political future.

USA Today reported today that a survey released by Public Policy Polling shows Romney leading 42% to 37% in Pennsylvania.  This poll shows that Romney has made significant gains among evangelical voters, Tea Party supporters and voters who say that they are "very conservative"--all demographics where Santorum has dominated.  (Click to read USA Today article).

Getty Images, Scott Olson

Romney is staking claim on Santorum's front yard.

Is Santorum paying attention?

Or has he become so fixated on his political pursuits that he is now vulnerable to costly mistakes?  I fear that in his quest for the nomination and his ferocity in attacking Romney it will be virtually impossible to make a graceful exit.  The only outcome will be a weakened front-runner, a divided party and an embarrassed exiting candidate.

But, it appears that Santorum is betting on the numbers, not reality and unfortunately, this could go on and on.

***

Santorum needs an intervention.  Hopefully, the private meeting today with conservative leaders provided the first step to a dignified and graceful end to the 2012 Santorum presidential bid.

As I have said before, politics is much more of an art than a science.  So far, Santorum is demonstrating that he doesn't get it.  Let's hope he received some clarity today--even if it was pressured and behind closed doors.

Go Mitt!