Sandoval’s support goes for naught as Rick Perry drops out

By Karoun Demirjian

Published Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 | 9:01 a.m.

Updated Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 | 10:16 a.m.

So much for Gov. Brian Sandoval’s endorsement: We’ll never get a chance to see how it might have played in Nevada because Texas Gov. Rick Perry suspended his campaign this morning and endorsed Newt Gingrich in the race for the White House.

At a news conference this morning in North Charleston, S.C., Perry said Gingrich was the best candidate to achieve what he described as the Republicans’ ultimate objective — “not only to defeat President Obama but to replace him with a conservative leader who will bring about real change."

"Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?" Perry said, addressing concerns among conservatives that Gingrich's personal life, especially his several marriages, do not exemplify their beliefs and morals. "The fact is there is forgiveness for those among us who seek God, and I believe in the power of redemption. ... I have no question Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement and the courage to tell the Washington interests to take a hike if it's what is best for the country."

Nonetheless, the Republican Party’s vocal faction of Christian conservatives has split primarily between Gingrich and Rick Santorum. In states like South Carolina, that division is keeping them from anointing a candidate who can take the lead away from front-runner Mitt Romney, who is still on track to sweep the primaries and caucuses.

Perry’s announcement comes only two days before Republican candidates compete in the South Carolina primary.

Romney currently is leading the field with about 37 percent of the vote, according to the latest polling from Politico. But 30 percent are backing Gingrich — almost double what polling identified as his share at a week ago. Ron Paul claimed 11 percent of the vote and Santorum 10 percent, according to the poll. Perry, in this and every other poll in South Carolina over the last week, had been in last place.

But Perry pitching his small base of supporters to Gingrich puts the former speaker of the House, who has displayed a phoenix-like ability to revive his conservative credentials and popularity this political season, within striking distance and within the polling margin of error of Romney’s lead.

If he wins, it could shake up what was shaping up to be a cakewalk to the finish for Romney — otherwise, the nomination is likely going to be wrapped up for Romney by the time Nevada Republicans caucus on Feb. 4.

Neither Perry nor Gingrich have campaigned in Nevada, save for October, when the presidential field came to Las Vegas for a debate broadcast on CNN.

But despite the minimal ground time, each secured a high-profile endorsement in Nevada: Perry got Sandoval, and Gingrich got casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Adelson, while not a politician himself, has been pumping millions into Gingrich's campaigns and the political action committee "Winning our Future," which supports his candidacy.

Perry first came on the scene as a presidential candidate in August while Gingrich's campaign was faltering, delivering his campaign announcement from South Carolina during the Ames Iowa Straw Poll last August.

The next month, Sandoval endorsed him, despite that Nevada is widely seen as pro-Romney country.

Sandoval issued a statement this morning in response to Perry's exit from the race: "Rick Perry is a good friend and a great leader. I wish Rick, Anita, and his family all the best. I will support the eventual Republican nominee and look forward to having all the remaining candidates here in Nevada for our presidential caucus on February 4."

Sandoval and Perry had a connection that went beyond their stints as Western governors. They shared a media consultant and, since the endorsement, have also shared political advisers Mike Slanker and Pete Ernaut, two of the most politically connected Republicans in the state.

The governor stuck by his endorsement even as Perry began to slump in the polls soon after, his popularity giving way first to Herman Cain, then Gingrich, then Santorum. In October, Ernaut told the Sun the fluctuating, day-to-day numbers for Perry were “inconsequential.”

But eventually, it all caught up to him. Perry could not pull a share of the powerful, Christian conservative vote he had sought to secure in South Carolina or earlier in Iowa. After a disappointing fifth-place finish in that state’s caucuses, he went back to Texas to consider suspending his campaign, but stayed in the race after Michele Bachmann dropped out, skipping the campaign trail in New Hampshire to focus solely on South Carolina.

Even though Perry's candidacy is now over, don't expect Sandoval to re-endorse anyone else anytime soon.

"Rick Perry is a good friend and a great leader. I wish Rick, Anita, and his family all the best," Sandoval said in a statement this morning. "I will support the eventual Republican nominee and look forward to having all the remaining candidates here in Nevada for our presidential caucus on Feb. 4."