Santorum?s Decision is ?The Right Call?

Mitt Romney, bruised black and blue during a grueling three-month primary gauntlet, finally has a clear path to the Republican presidential nomination and a free pass to focus entirely on President Obama.

Rick Santorum?s decision on Tuesday to exit the GOP race was a best-case scenario for the Republican Party and for Santorum personally. His chances of capturing the GOP nomination had dwindled to nothing, and he was facing the prospect of losing to Romney in his home state of Pennsylvania.

An ongoing primary, while not fatal to Romney, would have been a hindrance as he tries to focus on the general election. Romney had already emerged as the party?s inevitable nominee and had stopped attacking Santorum by name. But his campaign had its money and attention trained on Santorum, as evidenced by the nearly $3 million it was set to spend in Pennsylvania. That?s money Romney can now save for the fall.

Romney?s campaign is facing a financial and organizational disparity, not to mention a deficit in the polls, against Obama. The presumptive nominee can now devote time to fundraising and start to unite the party, repair his image among women and build a robust ground game in key battleground states.

Romney becomes the party?s official leader now ? not later ? and after facing the prospect of a primary race continuing through June, party elders can breathe a sigh of relief.

?This decision is the right one for the good of the team and frankly, for Rick Santorum personally,? said Rick Wilson, a GOP strategist. ?This is the right call.? Read more

?National Journal's Alex Roarty
@Alex_Roarty

NATIONAL JOURNAL?S PRIMARY REPORT

Santorum Exit Opens Endorsement Floodgate for Romney
[National Journal, 4/10/12] With Santorum's exit from the race, a Romney nomination seems all but assured. That makes it safe for previously unaffiliated Republicans -- like Govs. Terry Branstad of Iowa, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Rick Scott of Florida and Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania -- to come out in support of Romney.

Romney Turns Attention to Obama, Gender Gap
[New York Times, 4/10/12] Romney?s turn toward the looming general election addressed one of his biggest vulnerabilities: a gender gap that shows women prefer Obama. Romney pushed back hard, making the case that the real war on women has been waged by Obama?s economic failure.

Santorum Camp: We?ll Do Whatever It Takes to Beat Obama NEW!
[National Journal, 4/11/12] Just a day after his campaign suspended its efforts, a Santorum spokeswoman said the former candidate would do whatever is necessary to help Romney beat Obama in November, but stopped short of offering an endorsement.

Romney Backers Help Pawlenty Erase Campaign Debt NEW!
[USA Today, 4/10/12] Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced on Tuesday that he had erased all of his campaign debt from his brief presidential run?that is, with a little help from the Romney clan. Analysis shows that 11 members of the Romney family, and several top fundraisers and aides, helped clear T-Paw?s debt.

Who?s the Rich Guy? Obama, Romney Duel Over Status
[Associated Press, 4/10/12] In an election year when populism sells, Obama and Romney are both trying to stick the rich guy label on the other guy. But both men are among the elite: One is worth up to $250 million and ran a private equity firm, while the other is the former head of the Harvard Law Review and a best-selling author.

Foster Friess, Santorum?s Millionaire Backer, Swings to Romney
[Politico, 4/10/12] Now that Santorum has suspended his campaign, his biggest backers -- including Friess, who contributed $1.7 million to Santorum's efforts -- are free to back another candidate.

Passion for Social Issues May Have Doomed Santorum NEW!
[Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/11/12] At crucial points in the campaign, when he was riding the momentum of a win or capitalizing on a populist message, Santorum went off course to talk social issues. Could this focus on the family have harmed his chances at the GOP nod?

Seth Meyers: I'll Break the News to Andy
[Politico, 4/10/12] One of the casualties of Santorum?s decision to exit the Republican primary is Andy Samberg?s characterization on Saturday Night Live. Co-star Seth Meyers tweeted yesterday that he had to break the news that Samberg won?t be playing the president.

Obama-Romney Showdown Starts With Harsh Tone NEW!
[Associated Press, 4/11/12] With Obama saddled with an ailing economy and a divisive health care law and Romney riding a wave of blistering TV ads, Americans face nearly seven months of hard-hitting jabs and counterpunches between the two parties? standard-bearers.

By Quitting Now, Santorum Preserves His Chance to Run Again
[Washington Post, 4/10/12] With Santorum?s decision to end his campaign two weeks ahead of the primary in his home state, the former Pennsylvania senator avoided what could have been an embarrassing defeat ? preserving his resuscitated political career and his chances of another White House bid.

American Crossroads vs. President Obama NEW!
[Washington Post, 4/11/12] American Crossroads, the Karl Rove-backed super PAC, is preparing for an all-out air assault against the Obama campaign in the general election. Already bringing in big bucks, the group is attacking the president through new ads.

Romney?s Tough Job: Wooing Conservatives
[Roll Call, 4/10/12] With Santorum out, Romney is reaching out to the conservative activists who supported the former Pennsylvania senator. But conservative leaders are reluctant to embrace Romney, saying the candidate?s negative campaigning has hurt his standing.

From Rivals to Friends, Romney Finds Conservative Ally in Huckabee
[The Hill, 4/10/12] When former Arkansas Gov. and GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee launched his new radio show this week, his first guest had pointed political implications. Romney?s appearance on the show opened the door to a thaw in the relationship between the two former rivals ? and a new vice-presidential possibility.

Gingrich Makes Play for Santorum Supporters
[National Journal, 4/10/12] Gingrich attempted to fundraise off of Santorum's exit from the race, appealing to supporters to give to "the last conservative standing."

Few Babies Survive Long With Trisomy 18
[Washington Post, 4/10/12] Santorum?s withdrawal from the GOP race Tuesday after his daughter, Bella, was hospitalized for the second time during the campaign once again drew attention to Bella?s rare genetic condition. The three year old has already beaten the odds: Just 5 to 10 percent of babies with trisomy 18 survive a year, and only one percent live to their 10^th birthday.

Romney Calls Santorum 'Important Voice' in GOP
[National Journal, 4/10/12] After vanquishing the final obstacle to his claim on the nomination, Romney lauded his formal rival as ?an important voice in our party,? and said he "look[s] forward to Santorum's work in helping assure victories for Republicans" in November.

Obama Campaign Statement on Santorum Exit All About Romney
[National Journal, 4/10/12] President Obama's campaign manager responded to Santorum's departure Tuesday from the presidential race with a statement attacking Romney, now the presumptive Republican nominee.

Paul ?Cautiously Hopeful? Santorum Decision Will Benefit Him NEW!
[The Battalion, 4/11/12] About 2,500 students and others gathered at the campus of Texas A&M for a Paul rally, and the candidate was asked about the impact of Santorum?s decision to suspend his campaign. ?I can?t see how it will be harmful,? he said. Texas has 155 delegates at stake but does not vote until May 29.

?

Attend a National Journal LIVE event | Sign up for National Journal newsletters

?

lottery winners lottery winners april fools day pranks ohio state vs kansas daniel von bargen the beach blood diamond