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Campaign Crawlers
Newt’s Last Stand
Gingrich may face doom today in the Deep South.
Monday, Carl Cameron of Fox News was the vehicle by which “sources close to the Gingrich campaign” floated a trial balloon, suggesting that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich might announce Texas Gov. Rick Perry as his running mate “prior to the Republican National Convention at the end of August.”
While I haven’t bothered to check with my own “sources close to the Gingrich campaign,” this suggestion had the distinct aroma of a substance one might find on the plains of Texas in the vicinity of a herd of longhorn cattle. Carl Cameron is too smart of a reporter to believe such a steaming pile of nonsense, and so my guess is that Carl was just sharing it with Fox News viewers in order to give them a glimpse of how truly desperate “sources close to the Gingrich campaign” have become. Republican voters go to the polls in Alabama and Mississippi today, and if Newt loses these two primaries, he’s got as much chance of winning the GOP nomination as he has of making Christina Hendricks his next wife.
Frankly, Newt doesn’t have much more of a chance even if he wins Alabama and Mississippi, but at least if he wins, his hope of going on to claim the Republican nomination would not be quite so comically implausible. Anyone can see that the Gingrich campaign is now at coffin corner and their increasingly desperate plight is the most likely reason for floating the Perry-for-VP trial balloon. Perry was once the most popular GOP candidate in the South and his endorsement two days before the South Carolina primary gave Gingrich a crucial boost there. Polls in both Mississippi and Alabama indicate nearly a three-way dead heat between Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum, and even a few points might make a crucial difference to Newt’s last stand in Dixie. A loss would be disastrous because it would mean “Gingrich can’t even claim to have won all of the Southern states that he feels is his natural base,” as Ed Morrissey of Hot Air observed.
Out of 25 state primaries and caucuses to date, Gingrich has won exactly two — South Carolina on Jan. 21 and his home state of Georgia last Tuesday. His prospects have declined catastrophically since early December, when he confidently declared to Jake Tapper of ABC News, “I’m going to be the nominee.” That was before Gingrich was buried in a multimillion-dollar avalanche of attack ads from the Romney campaign (and its allied “super PAC”) in Iowa. Gingrich finished fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire, but his victory in South Carolina appeared to revive his campaign. That appearance was short-lived, however, as Romney unleashed an altogether unprecedented tsunami of attack ads in Florida, crushing Newt’s hopes of continuing his comeback in that state’s Jan. 31 primary.
Since then, Gingrich has struggled to maintain the appearance of being a viable contender. On stage in Orlando the night of his Florida defeat, Gingrich was surrounded by supporters holding signs that read “46 states to go.” I was in Tampa that night, covering the victory rally where one of Romney’s top aides reacted to Gingrich’s slogan with a dismissive sneer, “Newt’s not even on the ballot in 46 more states.” This was true — Gingrich had failed to qualify for the Virginia and Missouri primaries — and yet Newt’s supporters in Orlando cheered wildly as he gave a speech in which he rattled off a list of acts he would take on his first day in office after being sworn in as president.
If the improbability of Gingrich ever getting to the Oval Office was not readily apparent that Tuesday night in Florida, it should have been clear the following Saturday, when Romney won the Nevada caucuses by a margin of nearly 30 points. This was a brutal humiliation for Gingrich, coming as it did in the home state of the chief donor to his “super PAC,” Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. The size of the loss was perhaps not even the worst of it. Gingrich’s effort in Nevada was such a mismanaged disaster that at one point, the candidate canceled an appearance with the state’s popular Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, that his staff had spent days working to arrange. The Nevada debacle was capped by what the Washington Post’s Aaron Blake called “a bizarre press conference” in Vegas where, among other things, Gingrich brought up Romney’s religion, dismissing Nevada as a “heavily Mormon state.”
After Nevada, things went from bad to worse for Newt. On Feb. 7, Rick Santorum celebrated a triple victory in the Missouri primary and the caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado. The Romney camp dismissed Santorum’s wins as non-binding “beauty contests” that didn’t matter to the delegate count, but arguably more significant was the poor showing by Gingrich. Not on the ballot in Missouri, he placed third in Colorado and finished a weak fourth in Minnesota. Gingrich was again fourth in Maine (Feb. 11), then on Feb. 28 finished third in Arizona and fourth in Michigan. With the field winnowed down to four active candidates, there were only so many times a candidate could place fourth before his plausibility as a contender expired, and Newt was already approaching his sell-by date when Super Tuesday arrived on March 6.
By all ordinary logic of politics, Super Tuesday should have been the end of Gingrich’s campaign, but 2012 has been a bad year for ordinary political logic. As it happened, of the 10 states that held primaries or caucuses March 6, Georgia had more delegates than any other, and Gingrich concentrated his campaign in what was clearly a do-or-die effort in his home state. He won with 47 percent of the vote in Georgia and thus survived, but at the cost of being wiped out nearly everywhere else. Santorum battled Romney down to the wire in Ohio, and lost by less than a single percentage point, while Gingrich finished a weak third in the Buckeye State with less than 15 percent. In three other states where Santorum finished second to Romney — Alaska, Idaho, and Massachusetts — Gingrich placed fourth behind Ron Paul, and Gingrich was also fourth in North Dakota, which Santorum won.
By far the worst Super Tuesday results for Gingrich, however, were Santorum’s victories in Oklahoma and Tennessee. By winning there, Santorum exposed Gingrich as vulnerable in the South, which had previously been regarded as “safe” for the former Speaker. The next day, while Santorum traveled to Alabama, the Gingrich campaign suddenly canceled its scheduled events in Kansas to concentrate its resources in the two Deep South states that hold primaries today. That had the effect of ceding Kansas to Santorum, who scored what the New York Times called a “decisive” victory there, with Gingrich a distant third. Santorum has now won eight states to Gingrich’s two and, according to the Wall Street Journal, Santorum now has more than twice as many delegates (217) as Gingrich (107).
The delegate math now offers a daunting prospect for any conservative hope of preventing the more moderate Romney from winning the nomination. When the Santorum campaign published a strategy memo arguing against Romney’s claim of inevitability, reporters immediately pointed out that the Santorum scenario would require a “brokered convention,” denying Romney a first-ballot majority in Tampa. Whether even the staunchest conservatives have the stomach for such an all-out fight remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Gingrich has repeatedly vowed his willingness to go all the way to the convention to stop Romney. Newt may indeed be willing, but if he doesn’t win today’s two Deep South primaries, he may no longer be able.
About the Author
Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.
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spike59| 3.13.12 @ 6:34AM
Newtie isn't going to give up; self-appointed messiahs rarely do-witness DrRonPaul
Clint| 3.13.12 @ 7:02AM
The RINO-CINO Israel Firster Smear Bund Bibi Boy Is Scared Of A Brokered Convention.
The Tea Party Rebellion Heads To a Brokered Convention.
Mimi| 3.13.12 @ 9:19AM
If there is a brokered convention...Its Romney for sure...it will be then that Ron Paul pulls delegates out of his hat and Voila!
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 1:59PM
A vote for Ron Paul is definitely a vote for Romney.
Ellen| 3.13.12 @ 2:47PM
I was a delegate to our county GOP convention, and had a chance to speak to a number of Ron Paul delegates, and I think our fears may be unfounded that Paul can throw his delegates to Romney. He may try, but I doubt his delegates will go for it. They are adamantly anti-Romney, although several of them did confide to me that they could vote for Gingrich should he be the nominee, although probably not Santorum as they feel he is too religious. This is only my very unscientific grass roots observation about some young RP delegates in one county in one state. But I have a hunch that Ron Paul delegates are pretty independent minded, it is more that they believe in Ron Paul's philosophy than in Ron Paul himself, and if RP betrays that philosophy, he will lose his delegates, they will not support Romney under any circumstances.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 2:09PM
Hey 'Israel Firster' MEDIA MATTERS BOY TOY, might want to read [if possible] Jeff Lord's article today her about MM's influence on MSNBC and yo buddies Sharpton etc over there!!!!!
One if by land...| 3.13.12 @ 3:28PM
Someone could write an article about the effects of dirt on grass growth and you would copy and paste the same stupid crap. Being an idiot is fine, just do it quietly and in private.
spike59| 3.14.12 @ 6:02AM
'brokered' or not...Romney will be the nominee, and DrRonPaul, the Tinfoil Hat Tinhorn, will be aout in the parking lot with his StormFront, KKK, 9/11 truther whackadoodles, babbling about 'bohemian grove', utterly forgotten by the GOP
Bobby B| 3.13.12 @ 8:30AM
Time for the Tiffany Queen to hang it up...
Vern Crisler| 3.13.12 @ 10:16AM
Hopefully, all the candidates will stay in so by the time Mitt is nominated, the Republican party and Republican voters will go down in flames, which is what they deserve.
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 2:00PM
Just as long as the democrats and Obamabi go down with it.
Alan Brooks| 3.13.12 @ 8:11PM
"Gingrich may face doom today in the Deep South."
Then Southerners are right after all:
there is a God!
Bill| 3.13.12 @ 6:37AM
Gingrich will win AL & MS and solidify his position in the race, replacing Santorum being the threat to Romney.
Anommynous| 3.13.12 @ 8:38AM
Romney is Newt's biggest fan right now. Romney doesn't mind if Newt wins tonight, and Newt might even deliver Romney a southern victory tonight that otherwise would not be possible.
Bill| 3.13.12 @ 8:48AM
Gingrich is the only candidate in the GOP race who can derail Romney!
Anommynous| 3.13.12 @ 9:08AM
Gingrich had his moment in Florida, essentially head-to-head with Romney, and was stomped.
Nick099| 3.13.12 @ 9:50AM
Yes by being outspent by Wall Street money 6 to 1 with 92% all personal attacks. So if I understand you, the candidate that you favor is the one financed and paid for by big money whose campaign runs on a "scorched earth" policy with little to no specifics...just tag lines and BS. After all, Mitt spent $19 million in January alone. Very deep pockets are paying for his campaign.
Wow- that is exactly how Mitt won one term as Governor in Massachusetts. You see, in the Northeast...no one really pays attention. For all their snobberby and claims to education and univeristies, they are mostly pretty dumb and Democrat.....no matter how many letters after their names. So in essence, you are telling me that a bulk of the Republican Party that favors Mitt ( without ever checking his real record) is made up of the same kind of imbecile that makes up the Dummycrat Party...yourself included.Now that is enlightening.
Anommynous| 3.13.12 @ 10:05AM
I support Rick Santorum. Read my other comments; I've been very critical of Mitt.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:09PM
Shazam, the Rickster is now saying his children have more 'reason' than Bill Mayer....what a campaign speech. What's next, that his kids are more religious than Maher??????
florin| 3.13.12 @ 10:11AM
You know, gingrich claims he loses because he is outspent despite having been given millions by his gambling mogul buddy from Las Vegas (if gingrich had more, he would spend more); gingrich claims he loses because Mormons vote for Romney - there are more Christians than Mormons so why isn't Romney making the claim when gingrich wins that Christians are voting for him...because Romney is a gentleman and gingrich is not. And stop about the 'attack' ads Romney put out...Ron Paul's ads against gingrich were far worse and more graphic but all were TRUE while gingrich's attack ads against Romney had to be taken down because they were maliciously false...gingrich is desperate to destroy Romney and will give Obama 4 more years but that won't matter to gingrich. He has sworn to take down Romney. If gingrich can't have the presidency, no one will...he is too dangerous and unstable to be in the White House...he went after Bill Clinton for making him exit the back of the plane...gingrich is a mean spirited, vindictive man...very very dangerous!
Nite| 3.13.12 @ 7:55PM
Newt was supposed to get a large percentage of delegates, but the RNC broke their own rules and awarded all of them to Romney. By the way, Newt was NOT stomped, he was fairly close to Romney.
Mike| 3.13.12 @ 3:12PM
What's the point when Gingrich is to the left of Romney fiscally? Can you imagine the legislation Pelosi and Gingrich will come up with? Gingrich has been trying to pass an economy-destroying environmental bill with Pelosi since 1989.
Don't vote for socialists like Gingrich!
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 2:03PM
Santorum should have not campaigned in Alabama and Mississippi. The only real chance to derail Romney is to double team him. Let Newt win the south and Santorum the Midwest. By splitting the southern vote, Romney has a shot to win 2 states in which 2/3 rds of the voters don't like him.
Santorum has no one to blame but himself. Same with Virginia.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:11PM
If the rickster would quit trying to be the Pope with labor union support, he might be credible [but that will never happen]!!!!!
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 11:01PM
Just beat Romney despite the RINO dollars Mitt has. In fact Mitt beat him also. Romney is the loser to the loser to Obama in 2008.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:07PM
Yeah the Rickster is now in a verbal war of words with Bill Maher......SHAZAM! Really presidential material. Maybe he could name Pope Gregory as his VP choice and put him over the top with the contraception crowd, huh??????
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 11:02PM
so now you are defending Maher. Are you really a Democratic plant?
Nick| 3.13.12 @ 12:20PM
"That nigger lover President Clinton had the pen and vetoed so many good bills passed by the Gingrich-led Congress."
- Written by Bill, in the Time for Newt to Do the Honorable Thing thread:
http://spectator.org/archives/.....ent_749403
You're a moron and a racist, Bill.
GO AWAY!
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 2:05PM
How do you know its the same Bill?
Nick| 3.13.12 @ 3:59PM
JJ,
Because he supports Gingrich.
And, he doesn't deny it. Ever.
Nick| 3.13.12 @ 4:06PM
p.s. I didn't mean that Gingrich supporters are bigots. Bill the Bigot is a Gingrich supporter. This is how I know it is the same "Bill" from the quote that I posted.
Bill| 3.13.12 @ 2:32PM
NCIK IS A CONVICTED CHILD MOLESTER. WATCH OUT!
Nick| 3.13.12 @ 4:01PM
Aren't you capable of telling the truth, Bill the Bigot?
What a sad, little man you truly are.
Now, GO AWAY!
Bill| 3.13.12 @ 4:33PM
NICK IS A SEXUAL PREDATOR!
Nick| 3.13.12 @ 5:56PM
Why don't you just give-up and leave, Bill the Bigot?
Nobody, here, likes racists such as yourself.
GO AWAY!
spike59| 3.14.12 @ 6:03AM
gingrich got PUNKED...time for newtie to go home
Mike 3/505| 3.13.12 @ 6:58AM
Amazing how important "meme,' can be. What is the delegate count right now? What is the popular vote rights now? Has Florida made its delegate decision final yet? The ONLY reason this is "Newt's last stand," is that people keep repeating that so it becomes conventional wisdom...Like romney's "inevitability."
Ask yourself this question...who is the one candidate who has a clear, conservative message that he can articulate at the drop of a hat regarding just about any substantive issue? Which candidate has the least baggage, as far as the emotion of the electorate?
Jabber3| 3.13.12 @ 7:39AM
Ask yourself this question who has the claim to the most delegates by a two to one margin? If there is a brokered convention it will be controlled by the party apparatus. Guess who they support.
Marco2| 3.13.12 @ 8:32AM
First question: Romney. Second question: Romney. And, as a bonus, he doesn't scare women voters away and can attract literate and successful suburban ones. Sounds like, inevitability.
Mike 3/505| 3.13.12 @ 2:33PM
Sorry Partner....I haven't really heard any coherent message from Romney yet. I WILL vote for him if he is the nominee...but let it play out.
Nick099| 3.13.12 @ 9:57AM
You are correct. Florida is not a winner take all primary and yet the Media counts all the delagates to Mitt.
The same with Santorum. Most of the delegates he got are not real counted delegates.
Accordingto the Washington Times, Gingrich has more actual delegates than Santorum - 107 to 95.
And I will bet this number does not include the apportioned delegates Newt would get at the convention from dividing up Florida proportionately. Newt came in 2nd there.
So it is santorum who should drop out then eh???
florin| 3.13.12 @ 10:12AM
The answer to 'who is the one candidate' Mike is ROMNEY!!
Purp| 3.13.12 @ 5:47PM
Ronald Reagan
martin j smith| 3.13.12 @ 7:42AM
I have never had confidence that this whole campaign was real and of course New is just a fragment of it. However he has his uses to the extent that it delays Romney's win. If Romney Wins.
You know the expression : You can fool some of the people All of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." Well this applies to this election and political cycle. There will always be fools but those who are aware are in increasing
numbers and it started with that dastardly Tea Party thing. Well that will grow--more people will see the light and that is our only hope. The Newts,Santorms,Romneys etc are all passing thru the night. Only when we have a leader that shows that have earned our trust will there be real hope. Until then we take what we can get.
Get Rid of Obama. That sums it all up for me.
KnownUnknowns| 3.13.12 @ 8:03AM
When's the Lunar Primaries ?
I'm sure Newty will pick up some delegates there.
Nick099| 3.13.12 @ 9:58AM
Well somehow he is in second place in delegates Mr. Wizard.
Mike 3/505| 3.13.12 @ 2:36PM
Like all comments of this nature about really great men....it usually turns out that the idea did have great merit and the commenters were way off base. There are good reasons to go back to the moon now...and just as many good ideas as to how to do so that wouldn't break the budget, nay would actually be a boon to private industry AND government finances.
McCandles| 3.13.12 @ 8:08AM
Comically implausible? In this campaign? Now THAT is funny. Newt's chances are not good, but please.
KnownUnknowns| 3.13.12 @ 8:28AM
lets be serious. only RUSH LIMBAUGH is less electable in Amercia than Newt Gingrich is.
Nick099| 3.13.12 @ 9:59AM
Well then you have never heard him speak....I mean seriously speaking of course.
Mike 3/505| 3.13.12 @ 2:38PM
Newt really IS brilliant...not like the poseur currently residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and certainly not like the folks sniping at him now.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:14PM
Shirley, you can't be 'serious'??????
Mimi| 3.13.12 @ 9:34AM
We are not quite 1/3 of the way home , with this Primary...quick changes are what we've seen so far. It is a given though if either Newt or Rick doesn't get out ...and soon it WILL be ROMNEY for sure. The Patriots sincere hope for a Conservative wiill not happen. It will be interesting to see which one will do the sacrificing for the good of the country.....This is a hard place for me to go, .....I have always been for Newt for all the reasons I've have blogged about...The time is now either one of these men could win it.
There has got to be some Painful choices but they both have superior HONOR in my estimation.
Maddox| 3.13.12 @ 9:57AM
Well said Mimi.
Nick099| 3.13.12 @ 10:11AM
Since Newt is in second place with delegates by Washington Times count ( actual delegates), the Rick should bow out. But I do not think that will happen. Santorum who is not beloved in his home state, has a tendency to run head-long right into a fight without really looking. He is the proverbial bull in the china shop. I do not see him capitualting any time soon. If Gingrich survives today why should he withdraw???? Because a plastic northeastern politician ( I live here, there is no Republican politician from the North that is Conservative--they are moderate to liberal) financed by his own deep pockets made fromWall Street, supported by Wall Street runs a campaign of scorched earth towards his opponents with little to no actual specifics and ideas to actually change the course of the Nation to prosperity???? He is as vague as Obama was in 2008.
"This economy needs fixing, and I know how to fix it, and I'll get it done." What the heck does that mean????
" I worked for 25 years in the private sector...I know how the economy works...I know how to fix the economy...and I'll get it done." What does that mean????
Remember folks in 2007-2008 how many so-called businessmen rallied around Obozo telling Americans this clown was going to save the Nation. Look how that turned out. Just because someone comes from the business world does not mean they are blessed with vision and the tools to understand, fix, or transform government. Gingrich is the only one of the four that has shown that capacity. No one else even comes close.
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 2:06PM
Let the voters in his home state decide if he is beloved. Frankly Newt and Santorum are setting up a Romney victory by going after each other.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:17PM
As long as any/all of them can defeat El Chosen One and his band of domestic terrorists in November, who cares??????
martin j smith| 3.13.12 @ 10:13AM
Gingrich should haunt Romney till the convention win lose or draw. He should run against Romney and Obama. He might not win the nomination himself but if can derail Romney I am all for it. I cannot stand Romney the pompas ass and his supporters any more the Ron Paul fools. I think there could be a brokered convention that will include the voters wishes.
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 2:08PM
Its where I stand also. Derail Romney less we get the "moderate" version of Obama. The GOP insiders are drooling over the possibility.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:21PM
The 'moderate version of Obama'? OMG what in the world are you smoking/ingesting? You'd have to go to the wastelands of Afganistan to possibly have a chance of discovering same. Romney may be a Yankee and not quite as conservative as the other candidates but to equate him to Obama is looney-tune land!!!!!!!!!!
Conservative Bob| 3.13.12 @ 10:44AM
I believe Newt is the best communicator of the bunch and plan to vote for him today in AL along with a number of friends and family.
I can not get past the statement by Mitt's advisor Norm Coleman that Obamacare will not be repealed.
Repeal of O'care is key to the survival of our Republic and way of life.
The Mitt forces and the establishment have been telling us since before the first caucus that Mitt was inevitable that we should just accept it.
Let us wait and see what actually happens when the votes of actual are counted.
Conservative Bob| 3.13.12 @ 10:46AM
should be 'of actual voters are counted' sorry
Tommy Frisco| 3.13.12 @ 11:03AM
Good choice, Bob.
When all the candidates are lined up together, we are reminded of which one is most knowledgable, articulate, and most willing to say what needs to be said to Obama and the MSM....Newt Gingrich!
Al Adab| 3.13.12 @ 12:26PM
Keep watching the delegate count. With so many states having proportional selection, who finishes first or second almost doesn't matter. Ohio for example.
Nomination notwithstanding, the real question is the electoral votes of FL, VA, NC and Ohio. without those the GOP loses.
Tommy Frisco| 3.13.12 @ 1:13PM
Al Adab,
I agree with your list of key states that historically swing either direction and often determine the winner in an election.
t's kind of ironic that the list never includes north-eastern blue states, states that the GOP establishment considers to be so important that we must choose a candidate from one of those states.
Al Adab| 3.13.12 @ 1:30PM
Correct Tommy, those states will never cast an electoral vote for the GOP. Frankly we should ask why states such as CA, NJ, NY, MA and so on, should have such a say in choosing the GOP nominee. The four states I listed above deliver 75 electoral votes; Obama margin of victory was 70.
Ellen| 3.13.12 @ 2:54PM
You commented that you thought that liberal California, at al, should have no voice in selecting the GOP candidate. As a California native, who finally gaveup and left the state a few years ago, I did appreciate the opportunity to have some voice in GOP politics through the primary system even though I knew that my vote for the republican candidate in the general would probably be meaningless. I also was able to have a voice by making contributions to the campaign of the GOP candidate I preferred in the primary process, and a contribution to the candidate in the general election to help him win the states that could be won. Please do not be so hard on us, life is hard enough in a blue state.
Al Adab| 3.13.12 @ 3:37PM
Ellen:
Thanks for your comments. I am certain that life in a peoples' republic blue state is hard. Glad for you that you got out as many have.
I am not suggesting that people not be able to contribute, ( in fact I would encourage contributions to candidates of choice) but simply that the GOP mught somehow weight the delegate numbers from such states - those which will not cast electoral votes for the GOP - in order that the nominee might be selected from states which will.
The very large delegations from places like CA or IL or NY etc. could decide the nominee and yet not be in play in November. There lurks a danger therein.
RCV| 3.13.12 @ 4:26PM
Al Adab - you could make the counter argument that states that ALWAYS vote GOP should have little say in the nomination, since victory will depend on attracting states that aren't already in your column.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:25PM
AA: Even though it didn't break down into states/districts etc, a poll-survey reported today that Romney is now ahead of Obama percentage wise!!!!!!
Mimi| 3.13.12 @ 11:15AM
The SAD thing in all this is Romney again , wasted more MONEY on trying to defeat his opponents. If he wastes the country's resources like THIS , he will do us NO GOOD!
I think he's in the HABIT of money getting everything he wants...in this case it's working so far.
I don't like or want the PRESIDENCY bought....The nation most likely will not either..We'll see! At the moment his looks are getting the WOMEN vote....The Wise are going for Newt, and Rick gets the Heart!
Dai Alanye | 3.13.12 @ 12:50PM
Does this mean anything to anyone with regard to who will best handle the economy? It should.
Paul has spent $31.55 per vote
Romney has spent $17.14 per vote
Gingrich has spent $9.05 per vote
Santorum has spent $2.54 per vote
Before Mitt attempts to fix the economy he ought to fix his own campaign. The problem with each is too much spending.
Al Adab| 3.13.12 @ 1:32PM
Certainly demonstrates which candidate has the most committed backers. Some buy votes, others earn them.
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 5:29PM
Don't care whether the votes are bought, earned or stolen.....as long as there are enough of them for the Republican to defeat the Democrat in November......All's fair in love & war & politics! Hell the Democrats are still trying to steal votes with Holder's DOJ legally fighting states that establish voter-ID laws to nullify Democrats' stealing of votes historically!!!!!!
Stroker97| 3.13.12 @ 11:31AM
Welcome to the Newt bashing/slandering AS team Mr. McCain. I guess Tyrell and David what's his name are on a well deserved vacation from Newt bashing, so you decided it was your turn huh? Way to articulate your phony conservatism along with our pals!
Stroker97| 3.13.12 @ 11:33AM
Should have read "Way to articulate your phony conservatism along with your pals!"
Margaret| 3.13.12 @ 12:57PM
Well said Stroker97!
Oldefarte| 3.13.12 @ 2:20PM
I just returned from casting my no doubt useless vote for Newt Gingrich for POTUS. I simply cannot believe the utter stupidity of the average citizen-voter in this country. These morons have historically allowed Democratic Party candidates to take over our government operations and instill their socialistic welfare-for-votes beginning with Roosevelt and continuing forward to Obama. Newt is the only condidate in this race who has the intellect to destroy this un-president-with-a-teleprompter and to put forth a credible program/solution of ramping up domestic energy production within this country to solve our currently climbing to $4/gallon plus gasoline which is a huge tax upon all of us. Santorum the SUPER CATHOLIC whines about morality and governmental attacks on the Catholic Church, and Paul [even though having some credible ideas] is a senile old man awaiting a nursing home. Romney [absent Newt] is the only other viable candidate [and is recently projected at being able to defeat Obama], so I'll vote for him in November [since there is no other choice if one wishes to avoid bankruptcy for our country]. I simply cannot comprehend another editorialist here beating the political-editorial drum for Santorum, who is nothing but a disguised conservative who owes his soul to labor unions. Forrest Gump was saldy accurate as hades!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scorpio51| 3.13.12 @ 2:28PM
Oldefarte, I don't think your vote will be wasted but I do agree that the average citizen doesn't seem to get it.
I hope ewt has victory in both States. His debate performance was spot on.
Anommynous| 3.13.12 @ 3:24PM
Voting your conscience is never a wasted vote. Rick the Super Catholic is my guy, but I could get behind Newt.
My conscience tells me that I can't vote for Romney in the general election as things are now. He continues to stand by RomneyCare and says it is great for his state but somehow expects us to believe that he thinks what is good for his state is bad for his country. I don't think he really believes that, so I think he's lying to me. And we have Norm Coleman, a top advisor for Romney, stating that ObamaCare will not be repealed:
http://www.redstate.com/erick/.....re-repeal/
My God!!! I can't vote for this man, I just can't! I don't trust a single thing he says! He's not guided by principle! Romney, the only way you will ever get my vote is if you renounce RomneyCare. ObamaCare is the most important issue for me in this election and I'm not even convinced you're on my side.
Scorpio51| 3.13.12 @ 2:24PM
Hope the people of Alabama and Mississippi are smart today and vote for Newt. I watched the debate last night on C-Span and the clear winner was Newt. He offered ideas as well as solutions.
Either way, I believe Newt will take his delegates all the way to the convention. It's worth fighting for and Newt has the "bound" delegates to work with.
Jill| 3.13.12 @ 2:33PM
Tired of your snotty articles regarding Newt while you defend every big government thing Santorum voted for. Just read today an article on Conservitives4Palin and it linked to a 2008 op-ed where Santorum called for the federal government to mandate that all cars by 2010 had to be flex fuel. Funny this is your limited government conservative running around bashing Newt and Romney for mandates while he himself tried to force us all into buying the cars he wants as his solution to lower gas prices. He even knew when writing it that it was not conservative as he told conservatives to hold on to their hats. No he runs around claiming to be the only conservative. At least be honest about who the man is, as in this case, he was no longer part of the "team" so no of you can't use that excuse like you have for everything else he voted for.
PattyMor| 3.13.12 @ 3:13PM
It never ceases to amaze me, how "in the tank" the media folks are for Romney. All the published reports of delegates are not of pledged delegates; some of these numbers include merely beauty contests. While Newt is behind, he's not as far behind as the reports. And while not perfect, he's the best of the lot. He has a good tax plan and a great energy plan. Go Newt and stay in it to dog the pin stripped progressive.
keith | 3.13.12 @ 3:29PM
Newt or Rick are the only ones to vote for. Nominate Romney, and watch the election go back to Obama!
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.13.12 @ 3:29PM
I can't support Rick Santorum. Let me say it since nobody else will, I'LL TAKE MITT OVER RICK!
Santorum has a serious case of foot-in-mouth disease, and he just can't help himself from taking the liberal bait on social issues. So what if you agree with him or not? If we don't have a candidate that will resist the liberal media's attempts to make this election about social issues we are really screwed.
Whether or not I agree with him, I actually do, but most of the country does not when it comes to these demagoguing issues. Its a loser issue for the republican party. People aren't going to be educated enough to change their minds on any of this any time soon.
Bottom line is, we need to stick to issues that matter. The economy, HCR, Debt, Spending, Taxes, etc etc.. we can't lose on those issues.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.13.12 @ 3:30PM
P.S.
I'm with NEWT!!!
Anommynous| 3.13.12 @ 3:38PM
And I'll vote 3rd Party over Mitt unless he disowns RomneyCare. I am so pissed about this election.
And I think you're a fool for conceding the culture war without a fight.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 3.13.12 @ 3:31PM
And honestly, I like Ron Paul better than Mitt. Ron Paul isn't as loony as his most fervent supporters. Its important to keep them separate.
Julie | 3.13.12 @ 4:45PM
I just cant trust a man who is named after an amphibian.
Al Adab| 3.13.12 @ 5:12PM
Wow Julie, do you really want that link attached to your name?
Tommy Frisco| 3.13.12 @ 5:34PM
That's too bad. I always liked the name Julie, but this one's kind of ruined it for me.
George Collins| 3.13.12 @ 6:36PM
Hey Frisco, Ted Cruz is a great guy, and I didn't know anything about him until you mentioned him. Cruz for Senate from Texas.
I have to say that I do like Newt Gingrich, and yes, he is the most articulate candidate, but the nod goes to Romney. I just want President Obama out of the White House very badly: He is incompetent to a level unheard of before. I know some of the talking heads say he's effective in that he's ramming his agenda through, but he is revealed as a blithering idiot since he lost the rubber stamp of Congress in 2010. My chips are going on Romney.
David| 3.13.12 @ 7:06PM
Before today's primaries, Santorum has won 8 states and Newt 2.
When Santorum does win, he seems to do it in a convincing manner (other than Iowa).
When Santorum doesn't win a state, he consistently places second. Newt is consistently 3rd and even 4th several times.
A lot of the criticisms directed at Santorum, some of them legitimate, are the very reasons that he is able to attract blue collar folks and conservative democrats. He can win the swing states that will be necessary to beat Bam Bam: OH, PA, WV, VA, MI, MN, FL.
David| 3.13.12 @ 7:11PM
JJ, interesting strategy and analysis. But why say Santorum has no one to blame but himself? Can't you also say Newt has no one to blame but himself, too?
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 11:06PM
I agree. I actually favor Santorum, but he must not blame Newt. He should have been in the Virginia race, and Newt helps take delegates away from Romney. So he should not be telling Newt to get out of the race in my opinion.
George| 3.13.12 @ 8:26PM
Hmmm. McCain says Cameron's reporting is "nonsense," but McCain hasn't called his sources to check. Instead, he's just based this column on a "guess." How is this guy different than anybody else in the country sitting at home watching TV? Where's the reporting?
RCV| 3.13.12 @ 8:41PM
If the early projections and returns hold, Gingrich is toast. Even his giant ego must realize that if he cant win Alabama or Mississippi, he's dead.
JJ| 3.13.12 @ 11:04PM
Romney is toast. He comes in third to Rick and Newt. Its a humiliating loss for him despite his spending like a drunken Democrat.
POST American| 3.13.12 @ 10:44PM
"America better watch it or
in a couple of decades we're going
to be a minstrel show --for RED China."
-Gore Vidal
1985
DONE DEAL---and Reagan --Clinton ---the Bushes
--McCains and Gingrichs ---WERE THERE!
----------------------------SO-------------------------------
WHY are these people STILL here??????????????
YOUR VERY LIFE
NOW DEPENDS ON
YOUR ANSWER
kf451| 3.14.12 @ 10:31PM
Hang in there, Newt!
POST American| 3.15.12 @ 2:55AM
AGAIN! ---for the slow of seeing---
----WHY are they STILL HERE?????????????????
Y!!!!!