Gingrich says RNC should demand loyalty pledge from candidates

Newt Gingrich’s chief of staff sent a letter to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Friday demanding that the national GOP require candidates to sign a pledge promising to support the eventual Republican nominee, a clear swipe at Rick Santorum over a recent campaign trail gaffe.

“I request that you issue a pledge asking all the Republican presidential candidates to support our eventual nominee,” Gingrich chief of staff Patrick Millsaps wrote. “It is imperative that Republicans unite once the nomination process is complete in order to defeat President Obama. We cannot afford four more years of his leadership.”

The letter was clearly prompted by Rick Santorum suggesting Thursday in Texas that Obama could be preferable to a candidate such as Mitt Romney, considering the risk of the former Massachusetts governor changing positions.

“You win by giving people a choice. You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who’s just going to be a little different than the person in there,” Santorum said. “If they’re going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk of what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate for the future.”

The comment drew harsh criticism from across the conservative spectrum, and Santorum backtracked early Friday.

“I would never vote for Barack Obama over any Republican and to suggest otherwise is preposterous,” Santorum said in a statement Friday. “I was simply making the point that there is a huge enthusiasm gap around Mitt Romney and it’s easy to see why — Romney has sided with Obama on healthcare mandates, cap-and-trade, and the Wall Street bailouts.” 

But Gingrich’s campaign clearly sees an opportunity for some traction against Santorum, who looks poised to win again in the Deep South on Saturday with Louisiana’s primary vote, further denying Gingrich a chance to make up delegates in his own backyard.

“Republicans must not lose sight of our ultimate goal in 2012: defeating President Obama in November,” Millsaps wrote. “While we may disagree on which candidate will be the strongest opponent to the President in the general election, we can agree that any of the current Republican candidates would be a better president than Barack Obama.”

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