As of 1998, The American Conservative Union gave Newt Gingrich a 90% lifetime conservative rating, Rick Santorum an 83% lifetime conservative rating, and Ron Paul an 88% lifetime conservative rating. So, it is obvious that Newt Gingrich is the real conservative in this race. You can see the ratings for yourself here: House ratings for 1998 and Senate ratings for 1998.

In 1998, Newt Gingrich was in the House in Georgia, Ron Paul was in the House in Texas, and Rick Santorum was in the Senate in Pennsylvania. In 1998, Newt Gingrich had a yearly rating of 100%, Rick Santorum had a rating of 84%, and Ron Paul had 88%. Those figures are interesting because Rick Santorum (84%) claimed that they had a conservative coup to oust Newt Gingrich (100%) in 1998.