By US Daily Review Staff.
In spite of recent polls that have former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich in first and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in second, many traditional conservative leaders are still throwing their support behind former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. In a press release from ConservativeHQ.com, Richard Viguerie announced the “first group” of conservative leaders to join him in endorsing former Senator Rick Santorum for President. By the tone of the statement, others are expected to follow:
“Last week some 150 conservative leaders gathered at Nancy and Paul Pressler’s ranch in Texas to discuss the Republican presidential campaign. There was an overwhelming 75 percent consensus to support Rick Santorum for President.
“The group of conservative leaders named today includes Dr. James Dobson, Gary Bauer, Joseph Farah, Foster Friess, Elaine Donnelly, and many others representing all four segments of the new conservative coalition who are coalescing behind Rick Santorum’s candidacy.
“I’m pleased that, so quickly after Rick Perry suspended his campaign, I was able to announce the first bloc of conservative leaders who have come forward to endorse Rick Santorum.
“This list of endorsers demonstrates that Rick Santorum is the best candidate to bring together social conservatives, national defense conservatives, economic conservatives, and the newly energized constitutional conservatives of the Tea Party.
“Rick Santorum is the only reliable conservative left in the race. He has a long involvement in the conservative movement, and he has demonstrated his commitment to hiring conservatives on his Senate staff and in his campaign. On the issues of vital importance to conservatives, such as the right to life, the pro-family agenda, national security, and fighting the growth of government, he has walked with us even when the path was hard.
“If conservatives want a conservative, not just another establishment Republican, nominated in Tampa and elected in November, it is time for us to start concentrating on consolidating that winning four-part coalition behind one candidate. The candidate who best appeals to all four segments of the winning 2010 coalition, with the fewest negatives, is Rick Santorum.
“This is an encouraging sign that movement conservatives are finding their natural home in the Santorum campaign and are in fact coalescing behind Rick’s candidacy.”
The text of the endorsement and the list of endorsers released today follows:
“Conservatives are the largest ideological bloc in the American electorate. In this election cycle, a number of candidates with legitimate claims to conservative support have considered or sought the Republican nomination for President, but this has left the conservative vote divided, empowering those who do not share our views and values. To defeat Barack Obama, now is the time for conservatives to rally behind the most electable conservative candidate, and we believe that candidate is formerPennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.
“In recognition of Rick Santorum’s character, judgment, and especially his commitment to institute an administration that will govern according to conservative principles, we the undersigned endorse former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for President of the United States and pledge to advance his candidacy.”
Signatories:
(Listing of organizations is for identification purposes only.)
Cathie Adams
President, Texas Eagle Forum
Gary Bauer
President, American Values
Brian Burch
President, CatholicVote.org Candidate Fund
Tim Busch
Businessman, philanthropist, and attorney
Ken Campbell
California Conservative Leader
Peggy Dau
Special Liaison Representative, Voice of the Martyrs
Penna Dexter
Radio Host and Commentator
James Dobson
Family Talk
Elaine Donnelly
Center for Military Readiness
Tim Echols
Georgia Public Service Commission
Kirk Elliott
Philanthropia, founder and chairman
William J. Estrada
Director, Generation Joshua
Joseph Farah
Editor and Chief Executive Officer, WND.com and WND Books
Robert Fischer
President, Fischer Furniture, Inc
Richard Ford
President, Heritage Alliance
Foster Friess
Friess Associates
Maggie Gallagher
Institute for Marriage and Public Policy
Michael Geer
Family Policy Leader, Harrisburg, PA
Ellen Grigsby
Director of Institutional Partnerships, Open Doors USA
Rebecca Hagelin
President, Rebecca Hagelin Communications and Marketing, LLC
Patrick and Toya Hall
Vice President, Guadalupe Radio Network
Jason Jones
Producer of the film “Bella”
Tim LeFever
Chairman of the Board, Capitol Resource Institute
Brad Mattes
Executive Director, Life Issues Institute
William J. Murray
Chairman, Religious Freedom Coalition
Richard Neill
Texas Conservative Leader
Preston Noell III
President, Tradition, Family, Property, Inc.
Pam Olsen
President, Florida Prayer Network
Paul and Nancy Pressler
Justice, Texas Court of Appeals (ret)
Penny Pullen
Illinois State Representative 1977-1993
State President, Eagle Forum of Illinois
Jill Stanek
Pro-life activist and blogger
John Stemberger
Florida Family Action
Stacy Taylor
Texas Conservative Leader
Richard A. Viguerie
Chairman, ConservativeHQ.com
According to the statement, “Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called “one of the creators of the modern conservative movement” (The Nation) and one of the “conservatives of the century”(Washington Times). He is the author ofConservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.”
