” I don’t know if it was magnanimus or shrewd political strategery by Newt,..... “
THAT is a very good question.
I don’t want to be caught getting cranky again, but I *think*, it was a money crunch, conditioned by that faucet of Adelson’s, being turned on and then at once turned off for whole weeks, leaving hugh gaps in Newt’s financial reach for states beyond the South.
Santorum naturally fed his money bump into the states where it “appeared” after 3 ballot wins that Republicans liked him there, and by several points.....for awhile. Was he lured into Michigan? I think so.
Was Rick displaced by the Arizona debate? Yep.
Newt debated Rick out of Michigan, but Rick missed it, of course.
I think you're correct and Newt was out of gas when the real campaigning was underway in MI. Plus, he has to MAKE SURE he wins GA and TN.