Which would be "better" for Santorum

[TomC]

Conventional wisdom is that if Gingrich drops out and either endorses Santorum or doesn't endorse, Santorum benefits. But which would be "better" for Santorum out of these two? Would a Romney endorsement really move Newt's supporters to Romney, or would a majority move to Santorum regardless?

[Cory]

Voted 2. Newt's voters aren't going to back Romney regardless of an endorsement.

[TomC]

And I'm thinking more about future states than Gingrich's current delegates.

[Wisconsin+17]

It would be better if Newt were to officially endorse Santorum, as Perry officially endorsed Newt.

One, a Newt endorsement of Romney, wouldn't drive Newt supporters to Romney for the same reason Cain's endorsement didn't either.

Two, Newt supporters are already doing that on their own. It's always good for you as a politician to go with the flow, not against it. Newt endorsing Santorum after a heavy defeat on super tuesday would be a honorable way to go out.

I doubt it will happen though - because Newt's all about Newt. He'll stick to it to the bitter end, delegates be damned. I have a much higher opinion of Perry, and it's a pity Perry dropped for Newt. Perry's the better candidate.

[Averroës Nix]

Option 2 won't happen unless Santorum has already imploded.

[Wisconsin+17]

Option 2 isn't happening. Period. Newt isn't going to bow out under any circumstances.

[Tidewater_Wave]

Gingrich's endorsement isn't going to carry much weight unless he somehow does the best out of the 3 and then drops out later which I don't see happening. By staying in the race though, he only takes votes from Santorum by about 4-1.

[Indy Texas]

Considering Romney's track record of endorsements so far, I think getting Gingrich's endorsement would hurt him (and help Santorum in the process). Let's recall...

Tim Pawlenty: endorsed Romney; proceeded to do a spectacularly bad job of stumping for him in Minnesota, resulting in Romney finishing in the mid-teens behind Ron Paul.

Jon Huntsman: endorsed Romney; criticized Romney's views on China; suggested Americans need a third party alternative to Obama and the ultimate GOP nominee.

Nikki Haley: endorsed Romney; was no help whatsoever in South Carolina

Mike DeWine: endorsed Romney; defected to Santorum and claimed it was because he was not being included in Romney's campaign sufficiently; has since emerged as a very vocal nuisance in Ohio, both to Romney and to the state GOP