Late on Thursday, Michele Bachmann confirmed that she would not participate in Donald Trump’s proposed GOP debate. This followed fast on the footsteps of Rick Perry, who earlier in the day “respectfully” declined the offer.
That means Trump’s “debate” is down to two participants — Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum — with the noted businessman and celebrity birther activist Trump as moderator.
While Bachmann, Romney and Perry all had polite words to say as they ran from the TV star’s project, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman went out of their way to reject Trump himself as a debate moderator who would demean the political process.
And Rick Santorum, one of the few candidates yet to have experienced a “boomlet,” leaped to Trump’s defense.
“Many of my opponents jockeyed to be the first to fly up to New York and use Donald Trump for a photo op and no doubt try and secure an endorsement,” Santorum said in a statement. “But when Donald wants to moderate a debate - they refuse to attend. That’s what’s so wrong with politics today - hypocrisy.”
That leaves just two, Gingrich and Santorum, for the Trump Debate on the 27th. Sadly, I'm betting the debate gets axed. If not, an hour of Gingrich on the hotseat trying to out-wingnut Rick Santorum the week before the Iowa Caucuses on January 3rd I'm thinking will only make the Iowa goofballs love him more...and alienate the rest of the voting populace. Trump indeed is considering pulling the plug.
It's entirely possible that Newt could have this thing wrapped up by February 1 if he takes Florida on January 31 and has won Iowa and South Carolina before that. Unless Mitt has won New Hampshire by a huge margin, I'm pretty sure it'll be over. GOP may not have anything to play for on Super Tuesday on March 6.
Obama vs Gingrich? The universe cannot be that stacked in the President's favor.
Of course, there's a debate tomorrow and another one Thursday, so the GOP Clown Car Show will roll on regardless, so we'll see if Newt can last.
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