Donald Trump: Mitt Romney 'Not Getting Across,' Nomination Fight Could Go To Convention (VIDEO)

Real estate mogul Donald Trump appeared to temper his expectations of Mitt Romney on Monday, saying the candidate he endorsed earlier this month could find it difficult to rally conservative support and lock up the nomination before the summer Republican National Convention.

"We'll have to see what happens. I think it's going to be a long process, and it could even go to the convention, which is shocking," Trump said in an interview with Fox News' "Fox and Friends."

According to Trump, Romney is having trouble convincing voters of his conservative credentials, which has opened opportunities for other candidates to gain traction.

"He is a conservative person, he is a conservative person in terms of his views, but it's not getting across in the way that it should be and other people are coming up that probably shouldn't be," Trump said.

He then offered some rare credit to Romney rival Rick Santorum, whom he spent some time criticizing last week for having lost his 2006 Senate reelection race by a large margin.

"But you have to give them a lot of credit because in the case of Santorum, he's come from nothing, and now he's doing much better," Trump said on Monday.

He also defended Romney against criticism from fellow reality TV star and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who, during an interview with Fox News over the weekend, declared that she was still "not convinced" of Romney's conservatism.

"I am convinced, I think he's an excellent guy, and an excellent candidate, and frankly, I think she is a fantastic woman," Trump said. "She's not really convinced about anybody at this moment, not just Mitt, it was really anybody."

Palin has yet to endorse a candidate for the GOP nomination, though she's often come forward to sing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's praises before key contests in hopes that primary voters will keep the vetting process going.

 

 

Comments

[mikkee1121]

11:37 AM on 02/14/2012

A lot of people are saying that the Donald endorsement killed him.

[GeneEUss]

09:32 AM on 02/14/2012

The problem with the Republican Party is that they have folks like Palin, Trump, Limbaugh at the steering Wheel.... Having them spinning in a perpetually tight right turn loop.

[spc5]

09:13 AM on 02/14/2012

Two wishy washy rich guys who are truly clueless about the plight of regular Americans. Match made on Wall St.

[labman]

09:09 AM on 02/14/2012

Silly me, I thought that when The Donald endorsed Romney, that the nomination was wrapped up. He did say that his endorsement won Nevada for him, so why not the rest of the primaries?

[Southrnbelle]

08:07 AM on 02/14/2012

Yawn.

[highlyqualified]

08:05 AM on 02/14/2012

He has no path Donald, never did, never will.

[skykam]

03:03 AM on 02/14/2012

Ridiculous, isn't Trump's endorsement enough to galvanize the masses? Is the magical power of Trump waning?

[sawadee2000]

12:45 AM on 02/14/2012

Both Trump and Palin would love to insinuated themselves into a brokered convention. Both need to have a bucket of ice water dumped over their heads if they think anyone is waiting for them to step into the limelight once again.

[jcd8822]

12:40 AM on 02/14/2012

He is starting to back peddle already. He know it is not going to happen.

[Marcusarilius]

01:11 AM on 02/14/2012

His Weave might be too tight.

[Michigan Joe]

12:26 AM on 02/14/2012

Now with the Donald and Palin making comments and predictions, I'm sure the Bush Republican Party feels guided in a way that they could never have figured out. These two really have set the bar way too low. But, that is great news for the Democrats. Thank you Donald and Sarah.

[henrypapillon]

12:04 AM on 02/14/2012

Sure, Palin wants to keep it open to force a brokered convention where she could possibly step in and steal the nomination with no work---but then what would guarantee that she wouldn't quit.

[Almondo]

12:03 AM on 02/14/2012

Like a lead weight chained to your leg, these are the endorsements of their lives.

[Almondo]

12:01 AM on 02/14/2012

"I don't know if he should file chapter 11, 13 or 7..."

[BGUMP]

11:51 PM on 02/13/2012

What makes Squid Lips think that ANYONE cares about his opinions. The man is a zero. He needs to get a new rug, a new life and move on.

[blueinannarbor]

10:54 PM on 02/13/2012

It seems like just the other day, tRump was taking credit for Romney's win in Nevada. Now, the losses in CO, MN, and MO are Romney's fault? First Mitt got the tRump bump and now he's getting the tRump dump!