Priebus: RNC Holding Out On Mitt To Be Nice To Newt

A delayed endorsement is a gesture of “respect” to Gingrich, Paul, and their supporters.

Image by DANIEL ACKER / Reuters

WASHINGTON, D.C. — RNC Chairman Reince Priebus told BuzzFeed Tuesday that the Republican National Committee continues to remain neutral in the GOP presidential race out of deference to Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, but expressed optimism that the party will quickly unify behind Mitt Romney,

An hour after Speaker of the House John Boehner got behind Romney at a press conference three floors below Priebus’s office, the chairman said the end is near.

“[W}hat you’re seeing as the party is becoming unified and the race is becoming Obama versus Romney,” he said..

Asked whether the Party is holding back on formally getting behind Romney in deference to Gingrich and Paul, Priebus said “Yeah, I think they deserve that respect — for us to hold back to see where this thing goes for the next few weeks.”

Priebus, who has spoken extensively with Gingrich, predicted the party will completely unify in mid-May, but wouldn’t force Gingrich or Paul to make any decisions.

“By mid May we should look for complete unification, but obviously that depends on what Speaker Gingrich and Congressman Paul do,” he said. “No one can tell them what to do.”