ConservativeHQ Chairman Richard Viguerie Endorses Santorum

Upon returning from a meeting of some 150 leaders of the conservative movement hosted by longtime social conservative leaders Nancy and Paul Pressler at their ranch outside of Houston, Texas, ConservativeHQ Chairman Richard A. Viguerie issued the following statement endorsing former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for President:“This past weekend I attended a meeting of some 150 conservative leaders, convened primarily by leaders of the social conservative movement, to assess whether social conservatives and other conservative movement leaders and activists might coalesce behind one Republican candidate for president.“Contrary to some media reports of bitterness, suspicion and acrimony at the meeting, in my 50-plus years in conservative politics at the national level I have rarely seen a gathering conducted in such a spirit of good will.  While many of the participants came to the meeting strongly, even passionately, committed to one or another candidate, all of us participated in the meeting with the greatest mutual respect and in the prayerful hope for a positive outcome.“My definition of a positive outcome from the meeting was that the conservative movement would coalesce behind a good candidate.  I went to the meeting supporting Rick Santorum, but was prepared to support and work for the consensus candidate, whoever that turned-out to be.  The strong support shown for former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, whom I have concluded is the most electable conservative seeking the Republican nomination for President, is a positive outcome.“After two ballots the group had narrowed the field to former Senator Rick Santorum and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich with Santorum leading.  On the third and final ballot a number of Gingrich supporters, in a principled effort to achieve unity, switched their support to Rick Santorum.  This resulted in a strong 75 percent consensus of the group in support of Senator Santorum’s candidacy.“This was not an anti-anyone meeting.  Everyone there was united in their commitment to find the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama.We are long past trying to find the perfect candidate who achieves 100 percent on every conservative scorecard.  Each of the major Republican candidates had their articulate advocates, but after the third ballot it was clear that there was a strong consensus behind Rick Santorum.“The group consensus was based on Rick Santorum's character, his principled stands on the issues of life, family, and the conservative agenda in general -- and most importantly on his judgment.  I urge you to join me in supporting Rick Santorum as the most electable conservative in the race for the Republican nomination for President.