[MattinNJ]

Every straw poll has it down to four candidates-Newt, Rudy, Romney, and Allen. Allen had a meltdown on MTP and was goaded into a possibly anti-semitic remark by a reporter recently. It may be Newt's to lose. He has to deal with his baggage early. Once he does that, it will lessen the libs attacks on him.

[Gorjus]

It may be Newt's to lose.

If so, then we lose. I'm sorry to have to say that, but his 'baggage' is too extreme to be overcome.

He was hounded out of office for moral shortcomings - a standard that only applies to Republicans, but that's the way it is. When it comes time to get out the vote, a lot of middle America just won't make the effort for a man of Newt's moral shortcomings.

In addition, he is the bogeyman to the left. They use Newt Gingrich as President to scare their children at night. Even Bush - though he is hated fiercely - is not considered as big a threat as Gingrich. Bush, in short, is considered a liar, but dumb. Newt is the AntiChrist to their liberal/socialist faith. Everyone who ever thought about being liberal would - to use the popular phrase - crawl over ground glass to get to the voting booth to vote against Newt. (Sort of like I feel about Hillary.)

[CharlesWayneCT]

Allen was not goaded into an "anti-semitic" remark, unless you call denying a false claim that your mother was jewish "anti-semitic".

He was goaded into a harsh response, which while perfectly understandable (the reporter had just called his mother a racist who taught her kids foreign racial slurs), may not play well to all people, especially those who don't get the context of the jew-baiting happening in Virginia.

[AFPhys]

I like Newt. I still like Allen. No decision about Romney yet.

The Republicans have very many good candidates. That is a very good thing. I'm most concerned about the possibility of having McCain as the nominee. I seriously would fear to have the future of America in his hands. A McCain presidency would likely be seen as Carter's presidency is now realized to have been.