Why Gingrich Should Be Santorum's VP

Newt Gingrich said recently that, much like the founding fathers, he'd sacrifice anything for a cause—in his case conservatism. So Paul Goldman and Mark Rozell have a question for him: "For the good of the cause, are you willing to join with Rick Santorum as the vice-presidential candidate on a unified conservative ticket?" Gingrich and his "moral character" are never going to win over the GOP's pro-Santorum "faith and family" wing, they reason on Politico. But Gingrich's "very conservative" voters could be convinced to instead back Santorum.

"Gingrich may well regard playing second fiddle as a fate worse than death," Goldman and Rozell admit. "He has mistaken celebrity for importance," seemingly unable to see that he is the weakest candidate against President Obama. "The last chance for Gingrich to use the gift given to him by the weak GOP 2012 field would mean putting aside personal ambition." The ticket would breathe new life into conservatives, and confer upon Gingrich "revered icon status," transforming him from an angry egomaniac into the real heir to Barry Goldwater. (More Newt Gingrich stories.)