"I've been talking quietly to the most powerful, I think, conservative movers-and-shakers in Washington over the past couple weeks, trying to get their read. Are we really going down this path? Every single one I've spoken to is trying to figure out a way to get to a brokered convention."
That was Joe Scarborough on Morning Joe today. For good measure, Scarborough also stated as a simple fact that Sarah Palin wants a brokered convention. Video after the jump.
Watch Scarborough's surprising statement.
Note: at least as interesting as Joe's statemen tthat all the conservative movers and shakers in Washington he's spoken with want a brokered convention was his blithe assertion that Sarah Palin does as well. Presumably Palin would not be included among "Washington" conservatives, so wouldn't seem she'd be among those he's spoken to. On what does Scarborough base his assertion?
WILLIE GEIST: Given everything you've said, do you think Newt Gingrich could become the Republican nominee for president, or is it still Mitt Romney's?
JOE SCARBOROUGH: I think, and this is my opinion, I think Newt--something's happened here, by the way--there's a reason why--remember after Iowa I said that if Mitt wins Iowas there's going to be a revolt among conservatives?--well Newt is the vessel that people like Sarah Palin and others who want a brokered convention are riding right now. And they want to keep this going. And when it looks like Newt gets a little ahead, they'll find another vessel. The Republicans--I've said it before--they want a brokered convention. And Newt is the next step there. Do you guys think, have you guys heard, has anybody said in the Republican establishment, "man, I want Newt to be our nominee"?
MARK HALPERIN: Another thing that happened 24 hours ago is that Republicans named Mitch Daniels to give the response to President Obama at the State of the Union. And I can tell you, there are already people imagining a scenario: let's say Gingrich wins here [in South Carolina] and Republicans have this panic and say we can't be for Gingrich. Daniels goes out and gives a great response. I'm not saying therefore he's going to enter the race. I'm not saying people are going to say "draft Mitch Daniels" all of a sudden, who declined to run. But people will look at that and say, wow: do we really want to send in Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich?
SCARBOROUGH: You know, the people I always talk about. People say, Joe, don't you love the Republican party? Yes! Chris Christie. Jeb Bush. Mitch Daniels. Paul Ryan.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Are we talking about these guys again? Is this what has happened?
SCARBOROUGH: This is important for people at home to understand this. You know I've been talking quietly to the most powerful, I think, conservative movers-and-shakers in Washington over the past couple weeks, trying to get their read. Are we really going down this path? Every single one I've spoken to is trying to figure out a way to get to a brokered convention. Everyone thinks, resents the fact that Mitt Romney's people think that he's entitled to this. I don't know if it's possible or not. But that's what the Republican establisment wants.
