(CNN) – The billionaire who was a major financial backer of a super PAC supporting Rick Santorum, said Wednesday he is "willing to help" the Republican party this fall, and that the GOP has to "move forward" from the bitter primary campaign.
Calling Santorum "probably one of the most popular politicians in the country," Foster Friess said in a Fox News interview that Santorum has "passed the baton, we have to carry the ball and make sure his voice gets carried along."
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"If we don't harness the energy that Rick Santorum created, it's going to be a lot harder for Mitt to do what he needs to do in November," Foster Friess said in an interview on Fox News.
Though the Red, White, and Blue Fund super PAC was legally barred from coordinating with Santorum's campaign, Friess appeared on the trail with Santorum. He contributed at least $1.6 million to the fund since November 2011, according to Federal Election Commission records, which show his last donation on February 21. The committee will report any contributions made in March in a filing due April 20.
Friess did not encourage Romney to select Santorum as his running mate, saying there are many "incredibly brilliant" possibilities among the nation's governors alone. He named House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whom he said has political "chutzpah."
"Mitt Romney is wise to keep his options open," he said, adding he has not talked to Romney recently, but has talked to presidential hopeful and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a high-profile backer of Romney.
But he offered a warning for Romney: stipulating that the candidate has changed political positions, Friess said Romney would do well not to renege on his pledge to repeal the health reform law known as "Obamacare."
"If he goes back on that," Friess said," he has to realize that the American people are going to be very upset with him."
Also see:
Romney on Santorum: 'This has been a good day for me'
Calling Santorum "probably one of the most popular politicians in the country," Foster Friess said...
He can't possible be deluded enough to be talking about the US. Can he?
Santorum was so popular he didn't even make it thru the GOP Presidential primaries and got his hiney kicked out of PA during his last local election campaign – by more than 70% voting AGAINST him.
Old Rich and White fits the description of a Romney surpporter. Looks like a Grand Dragon in the KKK to me.
yo foster, Your boy Bishop Romney is gettin real populor wit da ladies. Why dont you kick it wit him?? Ladies be all up in lovin da Bishop.
SANTORUM IS DEFINATELY NOT ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CANDIDATES. The people of his state have been saying for weeks that they kicked him out last time and do not intend to vote for him this time....Strange that after his bragging about how well he would do in Pennsylvania.......,,,he quit before they quit him!!!!!!
!!
I'll be around. Where there's a rich white guy in need of another tax break, I'll be there. Wherever there's a brain dead woman in need of expensive life support her husband doesn't want, I'll be there. Wherever there's a country that needs invading for reasons that don't quite pan out, I'll be there.
A filthy rich, greedy Billionaire, trying to buy the presidency, so he can make more money. What is the world coming to?
well that was money well spent, i guess he helped the economy, just by spending it
Citizens United must be nullified by a Constitutional Amendment. It is obscene that a couple of billionaires have so much influence over our elections!
How many billionaires and millionaires are backing the republicans vs the democrats?
Do NOT vote for ANYONE who accepts money from outside of their/your voting district. Make all candidates post on their website of who their donors are and how much money they donated/bribed.
Santorum popular. The people in his own state booted him out of office. Now he drops out of the Penn. race so he doesn't lose there now. Popular. Duh... About as popular as skunks.
He looks like an older Santorum with gray hair?
Yup, he's exactly the predator among the 1% who intends to buy as much power as possible from the GOBP powerbrokers.
young poor and...non-white fits an Obama suppporter? What are you trying to say?
I gots an idea...let's all just quit our jobs and let those...well, not the rich white guys, for sure...how about those poor white women...yeah, let's let THEM support us with jobs and opportunities.
Sounds perfect.
Rick Santorums backer is a very wealthy man, playing Las Vegas games w/our nation! Isn't that what politics have always been about; spoils going to the highest bidder! Politics are worse than celebrity in the "gimme something for nothing" stakes! Many politicians fall victim to rich "benefactors" that basically want to own them! Luckily, we still have the consti.tution to keep us, the people, grounded! That is what separates us from the rest of the world & what makes us The United States of America! We actually have a "say" in our governmental dealings, no matter our socioeconomic background!! So how is it that multimillionaires have more say than me!? That is not the American Way, as I understand it! This country was built on the backs of the middle class & working poor & it will remain ours! No rich man will come in here, again & turn heads on our watch! This country is ours, not just for the rich!! Obama Again!!
Foster Friess,
He's so right, we have got to seize the energy from EVERY great candidate we've had and put it to use for Mitt Romney.
He is qualified to turn the World's largest failing company around. If you need someone empathetic – get a therapist!
Romney's in there because of his presidential skills, his fiscal responsibility, his ability to create private sector jobs from
private sector money. He knows which countries are our enemies are and how to shut them down. My mother was a great mom, she would have made a terrible President of the US.
King of etch-a-sketch – OBAMA! First you see the Constitution – then you don't. First America's the land of promise – then Obama says there should be a LIMIT on how much money each American should be able to make in a lifetime. (said to a crowd by Obama in Springfield, IL over a year ago – WITHOUT his tele-prompter).
A LIMIT Mr Buffett, Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, and maybe you, if King Obama has anything to say about it!
Obama etch-a-sketch – wants a LIMIT for how much EVERY ONE OF US working hard for our money can make in a lifetime. Who will be left to take care of the poor??? We will BE the poor if Obama gets back in!