Posted on 04/17/2005 1:52:04 PM PDT by wagglebee
Will the 2008 presidential race be a contest between Hillary Clinton and Newt Gingrich?
Speculation is spreading this weekend as the former speaker of the House is reported to be "plotting an eye-catching comeback," according to London's Sunday Times.
Gingrich, the Republican revolutionary who designed the GOP's "Contract with America" in the 1990s, is spending tomorrow and Tuesday in New Hampshire, before heading next month to Iowa, two states at the vanguard of presidential campaigning with their early primaries.
In fact, he mentioned both in a comment last week, stating, "If I want to be effective at defining the idea framework for 2008, there's nothing I can do that's more effective than go to New Hampshire and Iowa. That's the place to get your attention."
But when asked about a White House run, Gingrich replied, "That's a conversation we ought to have in the summer of 2007. The minute I talk about candidacy ... everyone is going to get into horserace baloney. From now until 2007 we ought not to focus on personal ambition."
It's been seven years since Gingrich has been in office, where he served as House speaker from Georgia.
"Is there a vacancy for an outsider? I couldn't agree more," Gingrich told the Times. "I think there's a huge vacuum in the Republican leadership. We're going to have a huge struggle over the next four years, but that's good. I'm delighted to be part of that ferment."
He dismissed suggestions the GOP might split between conservative and moderate groups, given no automatic successor to President Bush.
"We are the natural governing majority party of America today," he said. "There's far greater danger of the Democrats being a desert of intellectual barrenness than there is of the Republicans splitting up."
But he also warned against overconfidence.
"I think Senator Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee," he said. "She is professional, smart, systematic and she is moving to the center in a very rational way," noting neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton have lost an election in the past 25 years.
"Any Republican who thinks we are going to beat her easily does not have a clue about the history of the last 30 years."
In New Hampshire, Gingrich is the keynote speaker a GOP state party fund-raiser near Manchester. He'll also be at book-signings promoting his latest work, "Winning the Future," and visiting editorial boards of at least three newspapers.
"Is Newt Gingrich a contender?'' New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Warren Henderson asked the Boston Herald. "He is if he wants to be. He will command attention.''
When asked Thursday by the Nashua Telegraph about a White House run in three years, Gingrich did not rule it out.
"I'm not even thinking of 2008," he told the paper. "I am interested in moving the ideas a lot more than moving Newt Gingrich."
He gave Bush high marks for addressing the problems with Social Security.
"I admire the president's courage. He has taken up exactly the right issue, but it has not been done with the right focus."
He told the Telegraph Bush needs to zero in on present-day losses for young people who could be investing their tax dollars on Wall Street.
"You can't get the American people worried about a government problem 15 or 17 years from this time," he said.
Gingrich is looking to expand the Contract with America by stopping the slide toward secularism by the courts and government schools, and put the Creator back as the source of all liberties.
He also seeks the teaching of patriotic education, incentives for students to become math and science teachers, and more investment in intelligence to combat terrorists.
"These things are going to be hard," he told the Telegraph. "There is no magic bullet. There is no survivor TV show where you sit on a beach and say, 'Gee, let's win the contest and take this thing by next Tuesday. This is real-live survival. That takes time."
President Allen......sounds good
PONG
President Gingrich? Maybe in Newt's dreams.
I've had the privilege of meeting George Allen a number of times, and the more I think about it, the more I think he would be the very best candidate for the job.
I like the idea.
People have to remember, that in 1994, after 40 years (!) of Dem control of the House, he was able to go to the American people successfully, and getting enough Republicans elected to become a Majority in the House.
If he could do it then, maybe he could get the American people energized to vote for him for President.
I think he would make a good president.
He's a lightning rod........that's his problem. He's dead on with the issues though.....I'd vote for him.
I think that Newt Ginrich would be a far better chief of staff or political director for a Republican president. Yes he was brilliant in organizing the "Contract with America" and taking back the Congress, but if you honestly look at it he did not handle the position of Speaker of the House all that well. Granted, the Klintoons hated him and went out of their way to destroy him; however, he was unable to "turn the tables" back on Clinton and in the end Slick Willie was able to make Newt look like a fool. To be an effective President, you must be in control and appearances matter a lot more than many people think.
He's not running.
"Newt Gingrich"
sorry , the name doesn't *ring*
how about Tommy Franks ?
another SPINELESS RINO
Exactly. He is like Karl Rove in a lot of ways. He would be an asset to any administration; but, in my opinion, he is too polarizing to be President.
He can run, but he will never get elected.
He's damaged goods, politically. He forgets that he was rather forced to resign from the House.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Newt.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Newt.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Newt.
allan ?...who's that ?
if he runs....he has my support
My personal favorite for Pres candidate is Jeb Bush with Condi as VP. I think that is a ticket that would have an excellent chance of beating Hillary.
Jeb Bush can point at his very successful tenure as Governor. Most presidents were governors before they became president, it demonstrates ability to manage a state.
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