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Did Glenn Beck endorse Newt Gingrich? Not!

Glenn Beck sarcastically endorsed Newt Gingrich on his show this morning. The Bachmann-turned-Santorum supporter is hoping the non-endorsement for Gingrich will produce Santorum votes.

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Matt Rourke/AP
Republican presidential candidate and former House speaker Newt Gingrich laughs while speaking during a South Carolina Republican presidential primary night rally Saturday in Columbia, S.C. Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary.
  • By Peter Grier Staff writer

Glenn Beck doesn’t support Newt Gingrich. Let’s get that clear right from the start. The conservative former Fox News host considers the former House speaker a “progressive “ – yes, that’s the word Mr. Beck used today in a segment of his online GBTV show. He’s also critical of Mr. Gingrich’s marital history, and his work as a consultant for government mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

But the candidates Beck has been boosting haven’t been doing so well, according to him. He liked Michele Bachmann, and said so on air, and look how that turned out. She peaked at the Ames, Iowa straw poll, and after that it was a long slide downhill.

Lately he’s been pushing Rick Santorum, so of course it’s Gingrich who won the South Carolina primary and seized the prime spot of anti-Romney candidate.

“Whatever we say politically, you’ll do the opposite,” Beck said Monday on GBTV. (It wasn’t clear who he meant by “you.” Perhaps he was referring to GOP primary voters in general.)

So for Beck, the next move is obvious. He sarcastically endorsed Newt this morning on his show.

“Now we’re coming clean,” Beck said. “We not only recommend, we wholeheartedly endorse Newt Gingrich.”

Beck and his supporting cast then went on to compare a notional 2012 Gingrich-Obama election to 1984, which featured GOP icon Ronald Reagan versus ex-VP Walter Mondale. Only in Beck’s estimation, if Gingrich does win the nomination, he’ll be playing the role of Mr. Mondale, who won only the District of Columbia and his home state of Minnesota.

“I think some might say that Newt Gingrich wouldn’t even win his home state of Georgia,” said Beck.

As to Gingrich’s triumph in South Carolina, Beck congratulated Palmetto State GOP voters.

“South Carolina, that’s maybe the best move you’ve made since Lindsey Graham,” Beck said.

That’s Lindsey Graham, as in the Republican Senator from South Carolina. You got it – Beck isn’t too fond of him, either.

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Watch this video below on key issues on the minds of social conservative or values voters in South Carolina.

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