Even though South Carolina’s Saturday primary is miles away, students and professors are making predictions as the field of Republican nominees grows narrower.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced Thursday morning he will no longer remain in the race for the Republican nomination and will endorse former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Perry’s decision to drop out leaves Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal without a horse in the presidential race. Jindal, who officially endorsed Perry in September, took to Facebook on Thursday to announce that he will not endorse another candidate in Perry’s absence.
“I don’t plan to endorse anyone else in the primary. I look forward to supporting the nominee. America can’t afford four more years of Barack Obama,” Jindal wrote.
In his post, Jindal called Perry and the state of Texas “good neighbors” to Louisiana during the “dark days of Hurricane Gustav” and said he had spoken to the Texas governor and his wife on Thursday morning to wish them the best.
The candidate who stands to benefit most from Perry’s absence is Gingrich, said University political science professor Belinda Davis.
“Perry made a pragmatic decision in choosing to endorse the person who has the best chance at beating Romney, and this couldn’t have come at a better time for Gingrich,” she said, referring to the negative media attention Gingrich received after his ex-wife gave an ABC News interview on Thursday in which she claimed Gingrich told her he wanted an “open marriage” as he toured the country promoting family values.
Jason Miller, public administration graduate student, said he doesn’t think Perry’s drop from the race will make a major difference in the primary.
“At most, I think it’ll centralize conservatives to get behind one candidate,” he said.
After a tight race in Iowa on Jan. 3, caucus votes were officially re-counted Thursday, naming former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum as the winner, a reverse from the original outcome in which Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was declared the winner by a mere eight votes.
Davis said several factors may affect the primary’s outcome.
“It’s going to depend on [Thursday’s] debate and the interview with Gingrich’s ex-wife,” Davis said. “As far as Iowa is concerned, Santorum’s win will energize his supporters but may not be enough. It may also make life a little more difficult for figure.”
Davis agreed.
“He’s funny, but while amusing, he won’t make a difference in the [primary’s] outcome,” Davis said.
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