ACU’s Cardenas: Conservatives Back Romney to Save America

Conservatives have coalesced around presidential nominee Mitt Romney because he is in a “must-win” battle with President Barack Obama for the soul of the country, American Conservative Union Chairman Al Cardenas tells Newsmax.TV.

Cardenas, in an interview at CPAC Chicago, noted that despite a tough and often contentious primary battle, it took just a month for conservatives in the Republican Party to come together.

“Obviously, who would have thought that after such a contentious, tough fought primary the whole party would have come together in a period of 30 days or so, and it has,” he said. “And here in Chicago it’s evident. Everyone here had been for someone else. We’ve had Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum and other presidential candidates here. They’ve all spoken well of Mitt Romney.

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"They’ve all emphasized a need for us to stand together. The party’s truly together, from one end to the other. Mitt’s done a good job reaching out to conservative groups and leaders. And I haven’t seen a party this united right after a presidential primary in a very long time.”

Cardenas said the motivation was simple; this is a “must-win” election cycle.

“We all think we’re at a tipping point in America and this is one of these must-win cycles that, if we don’t, some of us fear we never see our country again with the same values that we’ve all yearned for,” he said. “American exceptionalism in and of itself — the self-reliance, the dignity, free enterprise, respect for free markets, respect for traditional values — all of those things are at stake in this election and we sense it, and the country senses it.”

Cardenas said the GOP has not won Illinois in a presidential contest in more than 20 years, but the Midwest is now in play.

“2010 brought us. U.S. senators, members of Congress, governors in the Midwest, and now, brought back a Scott Walker victory on Tuesday,” he said.

“So the Midwest is poised to do this for Mitt Romney. Romney’s name is magic in Michigan, the Wisconsin victory puts that state at play, we’re going to take back Indiana for sure, Ohio’s certainly a state that we think will win and even Illinois might be in play. The whole heartland political process is upside down for the Democrats and it’s good news for us.”

Cardenas said a reason for the Midwest being in play could be found
in Obama’s victory speech in 2008 in Chicago where he promised jobs, a new future, and renewed hope.

“Well, he’s done the opposite,” he said. “There’s gender warfare, they’re scaring our seniors, they’re lying to our immigrants, they’re creating every coalition group they can of environmental radicals or other groups that are not really part of our mainstream. All of that to win an election.

“What’s really at stake here is what the people are witnessing. All they want is America to get back on the right path. It’s not that hard and it’s very easy and we just need to elect someone else.”