Rick Perry was winning the GOP nomination by a landslide a few monthes ago. Hillary was beating Obama by a landslide for the Dem nod in 2008. Heck, pre-economy tanking, McCain/Palin was ahead of Obama/Biden by a far bigger margin than the Rasmussen poll gives Newt (which is no better than a statistical tie against a President with a lower approval rating than Jimmy Carter)
Newt is unelectable, plain and simple. The general public's perception of Newt is far more negative than any of the Republicans (except Palin, but she's not running) Whether that's Newt's own fault or a media character assassination is immaterial, the fact remains that Americans just plain don't like him. When over 60% of the general public loathes a politician, he's DOA. Obama's only prayer of being re-elected is have a Republican opponent that people despise even more than him, and Newt certainly fits the bill. There is so much dirt on Newt that if he nominee, Obama will have endless material to run negative ads to the point where Darth Vader is more popular with Americans. Nominating Newt is a death wish for the GOP. Don't say you weren't warned. (my efforts to warn the Kathleen Harris worshippers here that nominating her for the U.S. Senate would be suicide for the Florida GOP were ignored as well and dismissed as "media smears". She then went on to win the nomination and couldn't even get 40% against a weak Dem in November)
>> However, ignoring the fact that it still wouldn't mean the "Tea Party" 'failed', let's suppose you're right about Newt; who's your answer? <<
I haven't endorsed any particular candidate, but I've said it over and over again -- the only decent conservatives in the primary field are Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Herman Cain. Are they all long-shots to win the GOP nomination at this point? Yes. But if you nominate any of the other candidates, you'll have a mediocre politician as the GOP standbearer and make it easier for Obama to be re-elected. That's the bottom line.
I rate Newt even worse than Romney. I don't think either of 'em have integrity and would make a decent President, but Romney's personal life looks like a choir boy next to Newt.
>> E. Pluribus Unum: And I don’t buy the Catholic conversion. It’s a cynical political maneuver. <<
Having meet the "new" Newt face-to-face in 2007, I agree with E. Pluribus Unum's post. Judging from what I saw in person, he's the same old arrogant narcissist he's always been. For such a proud "Catholic" convert, he sure seems to spend all his time kissing up to evangelical protestants in a state that has just as many Catholics.
For the record, Newt Gingrich converted to Catholicism in spring 2009, several years after the point at which you 'judged' him.