Sunday Soundbite Analysis

The four GOP candidates stand strong, with no one willing to drop out. They make rounds on the Sunday shows to talk about the future of the race.

  BY VICTORIA CRAIG As the battle for the GOP nomination continues with a field of four, candidates took to the Sunday shows to explain why they should represent the party in November. Rick Santorum told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Mitt Romney hasn’t secured the nomination, and the fight isn’t over yet. “This isn’t a mathematical formula. This race has a tremendous amount of dynamics and we’ve got a lot of states coming up that are going to be great states for us...we’re doing very, very well in a lot of the states.” It doesn’t look like any of the GOP candidates will be getting out of the race anytime soon. Newt Gingrich said even if he suffers losses in upcoming races, he’s not willing to give up just yet. And when pressed, Santorum told “Meet the Press” he’s not pushing for Gingrich to drop out. Still, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says the race will likely go to Romney and wrap-up by May. “If Romney does well, wins either Mississippi or Alabama and wins Illinois, then I think it’s virtually impossible for this thing to continue much beyond early May.” Further, Steve Forbes, a former presidential contender, says the party infighting won’t damage it in November, and the candidates will get a fresh start. On the topic of energy, Newt Gingrich told Chris Wallace $2.50 gas could be very possible in the next two years – but not with the president’s policy of increased dependency on foreign sources. “The direction I would take the country is toward developing our energy resources to be independent of the Middle East so that no American president would ever again bow to a Saudi king.” A recent poll showed more than 80 percent of Americans disapproved on the job Congress is doing. Harry Reid told CNN’s Candy Crowley if he was polled, he would agree with the majority — and he knows just who’s to blame. “I think the obstructionism we’ve had over the last two Congresses, but especially this one, has turned the American people. What the Republicans have done: Stopping us from doing the most simple things.” But Santorum fought back on “Meet the Press,” saying it’s Republicans who have been the party of yes — citing examples like the Keystone Pipeline to create jobs and jumpstart the economy. He said domestic drilling for oil is key to helping reduce energy and gas prices.