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Newt Gingrich back on his game
Politico ^ | 2/23/2012 | GINGER GIBSON

Posted on 02/23/2012 7:15:07 AM PST by RoosterRedux

Newt Gingrich didn’t have a game-changing moment in Wednesday night’s Arizona debate.

But the former House speaker’s newest approach to the Republican presidential race — staying above the fray, avoiding attacks and focusing on the issues — proved to be a winner for him anyway.

“Newt’s last two outings were disjointed and low-energy,” said Rick Wilson, a GOP strategist who is unaligned in the presidential race. “Tonight was markedly better.” But Gingrich had more ground to make up than the other candidates in Wednesday’s debate. More than his GOP rivals, Gingrich has used his debate performances — often marked by scathing attacks on the media — as a springboard for jump-starting his erratic campaign. Many attributed Gingrich’s sole win this primary season in South Carolina to a confident performance in a pre-primary debate.

As his poll numbers have continued to dive, the debate was seen as one of Gingrich’s last opportunities to regain traction before Super Tuesday on March 6. The question is whether a good debate performance can translate into major momentum so late in the game, especially with Rick Santorum now challenging Mitt Romney for first place.

“He dealt himself back in the game with some of the Newt magic,” Wilson said. “But Newt doing well now comes out of Santorum’s numbers, not Mitt’s.”

Gingrich laughed and smiled during the debate, leaned back in his chair on several occasions and beamed when Romney gave him several pointed looks during his responses to questions. When asked to use one word to describe himself, Gingrich responded with: “Cheerful.”

“He looked relaxed and looked like he was having fun,” said Chip Saltsman, who was Mike Huckabee’s campaign manager in 2008. “Definitely in his element.”

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gingrich; newt; newt2012
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To: marstegreg

You may have a good point. Santorum, as well, to me had his worst debate performance last night. Maybe the hubris gets in their way. I thought Newt did great last night..but I really wish he’d ditch that purple tie.


61 posted on 02/23/2012 12:31:19 PM PST by alamogal
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin

It was as proposed by Newt to be done by private enterprise, if you owned stock in a company that wanted to get involved in this effort you could sell your stock. If private enterprise doesn’t care to invest in it, then it won’t happen. It would give those left at NASA something to do that is keeping with their original purpose. Just this morning someone on another thread was complaing that the problem with the GOP is that there is no leader with bold or grand ideas or solutions.


62 posted on 02/23/2012 12:37:05 PM PST by duffee (NEWT 2012)
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To: foxfield

The Romney and Paul campaigns and their PACS have been paying for and running the negative ads. Romney’s minions have been constantly attacking anyone that threatens Romney. I have lost all respect for Christie as he has to have known that he was repeating proven lies and distortions about Newt.


63 posted on 02/23/2012 12:46:27 PM PST by duffee (NEWT 2012)
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To: duffee; A'elian' nation; LUV W
To: PSYCHO-FREEP; Jim Robinson; onyx; STARWISE

Just read this on Sarah Palin’s Facebook page:

“Sarah Palin
Newt’s message on energy development was spot-on. Drill now and stop bowing to foreign regimes begging them to do it for us. Then we’ll all be “cheerful.”

Sounds positive about him, hmmmm?

1,191 posted on 02/22/2012 7:48:49 PM PST by LUV W (This space reserved for a hero............my AF son........)

64 posted on 02/23/2012 12:50:46 PM PST by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: bereanway; KansasGirl
Romney is up to fifty nine million in negative ads...Should make a good ad. He spends and spends and spends and spends and all he has to show for it is a pile of dog poo.
65 posted on 02/23/2012 1:10:29 PM PST by hoosiermama (Stand with God and Sarah, the Gipper and Newt will be standing next to you.)
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To: bopdowah
Last night when they asked for one word to describe each candidate, I thought BULLDOG.
66 posted on 02/23/2012 1:16:14 PM PST by hoosiermama (Stand with God and Sarah, the Gipper and Newt will be standing next to you.)
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To: RoosterRedux
Most agree Newt did a fine job in the debate.

A fair-minded assessment of Santorum's performance knows it was a problem for him. The back and forth with Romney probably hurt Romney less.

It could help Newt keep Georgia but we can expect Santorum "winning" Michigan will be a boost into Super Tuesday. Neither will catch Romney in Arizona looking at polling released pre-debate.

The establishment tag team wants Newt out to the detriment of us all.

67 posted on 02/23/2012 1:33:41 PM PST by newzjunkey (Santorum voted for Sotomayor, Obama's 1st choice for Supreme Court.)
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To: RoosterRedux

Still root’n for Newton..:)


68 posted on 02/23/2012 1:53:14 PM PST by Leep (Dueling tag lines=don't worry,you'll be a vegetable guy soon<>It's gonna be a Newt day!)
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To: KansasGirl

Paul is split the vote mole?


69 posted on 02/23/2012 2:17:09 PM PST by plenipotentiary (Obama was a BRITISH SUBJECT at birth, passed to him via Pops, can't be NBC)
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To: duffee
It was as proposed by Newt to be done by private enterprise.

Promising the American people that private enterprise is actually going to be willing to make this huge of an investment, and have permanent moon colony by 2020, is a promise Gingrich cannot possibly make in good faith. It is entirely possible (I'd say overwhelmingly likely), that it would not happen that quickly.

That's my problem with the statement. If he wants to say he'd "encourage" private industry to do it, that's reasonable. But if he is going to make it a promise, then he must be willing to support it with whatever government funding is necessary to ensure that promise is fulfilled.

Promising that someone else is going to pick up the check is not a good idea unless you've gotten their promise ahead of time to do it. And here, Newt is making a commitment on behalf of purely private entities he has no power to fulfill.

70 posted on 02/23/2012 2:41:38 PM PST by Bruce Campbells Chin
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To: RoosterRedux

at least he is not discussing Satan. Newt is on David Boze’s
show now and hitting them out of the park regarding energy policy, and hitting The One on his algae-based fuel scheme.

I’m beginning to realize that Newt is the best chance we have.


71 posted on 02/23/2012 3:26:04 PM PST by RitchieAprile
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To: McGruff

When Newt made the statement about a moon station, he was talking to an audience of NASA employees and unemployed NASA ex-employees. How can anyone fault him for giving them hope of a better future and a reason to hang in there?


72 posted on 02/23/2012 4:01:54 PM PST by WVNan ("Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy." - Winston)
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To: who knows what evil?
"That would be correct...Romnuts has a ten million dollar home on that lake which is ALREADY being referred to as the 'summer White House' by the Red Hampshire media. Wolfeboro is already freaking out wondering how town roads will be able to handle the increase in traffic..."

Seriously? Wow........those folks have dramatically misplaced concerns. Lol! Romney NEVER should be, nor will be President. GO NEWT!!!

73 posted on 02/24/2012 6:50:43 AM PST by NoRedTape
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To: KansasGirl
"I just don’t understand Paul’s motivation."

From what I'm hearing is that Paul would like Romney to pick his son for VP.

74 posted on 02/24/2012 10:59:41 AM PST by LADY J (You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. - Author Unknown)
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To: bereanway; RoosterRedux; GOPsterinMA; KansasGirl

” It’s easy to stay above the fray when you don’t have a big bullseye on your back. At this point Newt isn’t leading the pack and therefore Flip and his hounds and his media enablers aren’t focused on tearing him apart. “

YOU are absolutely right, as I believe they all expect a Newt rise again, which requires “Round III” salvo’s to be saved for Newt’s third moment.

My concern is that if “we” can’t make Newt more of a movement candidate, I don’t see how the $millions of media, Establishment and Marxist powers and money and virtual blackout can be offset, overcome? Newt has what, one big backer, who has left some huge gaps in Newt’s campaign, particularly Florida, where Newt is permitted to twist in the wind, under virulant attack, left a half million dollars in debt, subjected to smears, dwarfed by cash, and silenced, before our friend coughs up another ten.

Gasp, cough, donate, interview, gasp, cough, another interview, brag on $100 million available, interview, interview, gasp...............


75 posted on 02/24/2012 12:08:26 PM PST by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: WVNan; McGruff

What you say Nan is true. A Florida, NASA audience in need of many jobs and a spark of hope. What goes unsaid, chilling in the freezer, is that Newt when queried about his remarks, plainly stated he would expect a NASA future funded with 80%-90% private money!

Perhaps he should have said that in his NASA speech, but borrowing from China to save NASA would never be a part of a Gingrich equasion to revive NASA.


76 posted on 02/24/2012 12:23:12 PM PST by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: SatinDoll; Bruce Campbells Chin

Just saw a headline very recently on China and space warfare. Didn’t read it, but get the picture, so enough said against Newt’s remarks on space exploration, I’m certain.

It’s amazing what Newt “gets”! To repeat, also, Newt said NASA’s future would be funded 80%-90% with private money.

This mind and intellect of his just can not be relegated to the ash heap of politics, rent by socialist contenders and Marxists fighting for take-over of America. Can it?


77 posted on 02/24/2012 12:29:49 PM PST by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: onyx

Absolutely Palin recognizes the giant among men. The ones that don’t, fear him, dread him and must stop him. They have already seen Newt’s buriel ground for the galactically stupid, opportunist, narrow, and one dimensional, ie., RINO leadership & Company.

I believe Sarah is silent on the formalities because endorsements in this era are useless, utterly, and damaging and trouble making for the endorser and the endorsee in every edorsement. Who needs it?

Who wants most to be seen rising above it all, now....Jeb Bush. I believe he is in and it hasn’t been announced. Otherwise, STHU, Bigfoot Bush! (H = heck, of course.)

.)


78 posted on 02/24/2012 12:40:38 PM PST by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: RitaOK

“This mind and intellect of his just can not be relegated to the ash heap of politics, rent by socialist contenders and Marxists fighting for take-over of America. Can it?”

No, nor should it. I keep returning over and over again to how often a leader, no matter how improbable, appears when a nation in trouble needs one.

Newt Gingrich is our Sir Winston Churchill. Neither man was/is perfect, both have been deemed ‘mad’ by opponents and supporters alike. We need a true leader, and one with ideas, willing to listen to possible solutions even those proposals not his own.

“Never, never, never, never give up!”


79 posted on 02/24/2012 12:57:04 PM PST by SatinDoll (No Foreign Naionals as our President!)
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To: RoosterRedux

Newt is the obvious choice. I just don’t get why people aren’t voting for him. He is miles better than the other two. Why are people still voting for Romney. Doesn’t anyone have a brain anymore?


80 posted on 02/24/2012 1:55:07 PM PST by dandiegirl
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