Posted on 06/11/2011 8:04:51 AM PDT by freespirited
Newt Gingrich vowed on Friday to campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on his own terms, saying he would do “whatever it takes” to remain in the race despite the exodus a day earlier of nearly his entire senior staff.
“There is a fundamental strategic difference between the traditional consulting community and the kind of campaign I want to run,” Mr. Gingrich said. “Now we’ll find out over the next year who’s right.”
Even as some prominent Republicans, including Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa, questioned his viability, Mr. Gingrich made plans to deliver a foreign policy speech in Los Angeles on Sunday and to participate in a Republican debate in New Hampshire on Monday. And he sought to rebut suggestions by his former aides that he had failed to engage in the campaign as fully as necessary because his wife, Callista, was micromanaging his schedule and did not wish to devote every waking minute to the campaign...
The departure of the campaign staff came after the couple returned from a cruise that left them out of public view for 11 days, just as the Republican contest was getting going in earnest and as Mr. Gingrich was seeking to recover from some missteps.
At times in the early stages, he appeared intensely engaged in the race. He made 17 appearances over five days in Iowa last month, seeming to thrive on the energy of larger-than-expected crowds.
But when his Iowa campaign manager, Craig Schoenfeld, proposed in a memorandum that Mr. Gingrich spend 40 percent of his time in Iowa to be competitive in a straw poll in August . . . Mr. Gingrich committed to only a handful of visits.
“That’s not going to cut it,” said Mr. Schoenfeld, who resigned along with the five other paid Iowa staff members.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I have to support Gingrich on this.
He learned from his mistake. When he quit the House, it was the wrong thing to do.
This time he’s being tough. I don’t think it will help this time around, but he’s learned from his mistake. Not a bad quality in people.
I guess we found out who wears the pants.
That said, Newt is trying to campaign part time, with a big social media role. Social media, complements and enhances a campaign, it is not an actual campaign. Obama, for all his jibber jabber about social media, got that, Newt for all his "brilliance" can't understand that.
Palin gets that better then anyone thats even running right now.
On the upside to other GOP folks, Newt can serve some valuable lessons, and when his campaign ends, also make for a great autopsy.
Newt who?
Who will inform Newt that his campaign is assuming room temperature, with the never-to-be First Lady holding the murder weapon?
Sure; his wife leads him around by the ear. It's a strange definition of "toughness".
Taking a low profile was actually a wise decision on Gingrich's part, after opening his campaign with a giant gaffe. In fact I recommend he keep a low profile for at least ten years to really make sure the public forgets.
Everybody that is dogging one of the GOP candidates is helping Obama. Promote the good points of your favorite candidate and if you are a one issue voter, try to get your issue on the platform. By breaking up into a bunch quarreling single issue voters we hand the election to the socialists.
It is toughness. Wherever it comes from.
Not quitting works for liberals. Every time.
People admire spunk.
It's about cashing-in on government-provided campaign funding for him and his cronies.
with the never-to-be First Lady holding the murder weapon?
Purchased at Tiffany’s I would presume.
Purchased at Tiffany’s I would presume.
Well played!
Newt needs to find another moral issue, left-wing politician, or ideal that he can compromisej with/on and just fade away.
“It’s about cashing-in on government-provided campaign funding for him and his cronies”
It is also about protecting “Enhancing His Brand”.
i.e. Make more money.
He does not have a prayer and he knows it.
He is despised by most conservatives.
He quit because he was voted out as Speaker because he had promised the Republicans would win 2 dozen seats in '98 and they ended up losing seats instead. IOW, epic FAIL.
Which is what he's done once again, by sticking his great big foot in his mouth. He's quite done, call him toast.
You’re right; this is a sure fire way for him to increase his speaking fees through the free visibility of a bogus campaign. Cripes, he’s an annoying person.
My guess is he really wasn't serious about it - just trying to scam some campaign cash and headlines to keep his money flow up so he could keep this tramp. I dunno bout you, but she must be giving him something spectacular to make him act like the fool he is.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.