Posted on 11/08/2011 8:31:31 PM PST by Steelfish
OPINIONNOVEMBER 9, 2011 Why Gingrich Could Win Herman Cain's prospects were good until this week brought accusatory testimony from a woman who showed up in person, with detail.
By DOROTHY RABINOWITZ
Newt Gingrich's rise in the polls—from near zero to the third slot in several polls—should come as no surprise to people who have been watching the Republican debates, now drawing television viewers as never before. The former speaker has stood out at these forums, the debater whose audiences seem to hang on his words and on a flow of thought rich in substance, a world apart from the usual that the political season brings.
"Substance" is too cold a word, perhaps, for the intense feeling that candidate Gingrich delivers so coolly in debates. Too cold too, no doubt, to describe the reactions of his listeners, visible on the faces of the crowds attending these forums—in their expressions, caught on C-SPAN's cameras, in the speed with which their desultory politeness disappears once a Gingrich talk begins. Their disengagement—the tendency to look around the room, chat with their neighbors—vanishes. The room is on high alert.
The Gingrich effect showed dramatically at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition forum last month—an occasion for which most of the candidates had, not surprisingly, prepared addresses focused on the importance of religion in their lives. Michele Bachmann told how, after struggle and indecision, she had found her way to God. So did Rick Perry. Rick Santorum provided a lengthy narrative on his personal commitment to the battle against partial-birth abortion—a history evidently from which no detail had been omitted. Ron Paul offered quotes from the Old and New Testaments where, it seems, he located support for his views on the dollar.
There were two exceptions to the lineup of speeches....
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Yes.
I am amazed at the number of times I have read, including from media outlets generally considered more conservative, that Cain’s campaign is barely alive etc.
Yes, there was one poll that he had lost favorability. That’s normal during the initial phase of an allegation, while voters are reviewing the evidence and watching for the candidate’s response.
But Cain also had his biggest fundraising days and I don’t think his polls are down in Iowa. If they are, not by much and his presser today (which was excellent) hasn’t had time to affect polls yet.
Newt - yes.
Dorothy makes a studious observation as an old curmudgeon experienced in analyzing countless campaign audiences. Needles even drop silently when Newt speaks, at least when he is meticulously well prepared to deliver his great grasp of history and detail, and in the end he will be a contender. If the conspiratorial supposition should arrive for a January Hillary surprise, it is only Newt who could flawlessly go toe to toe with her on wonky. No one else would stand a chance in the wonk arena.
But, there is a rebellion under foot to resist the take over of a nation by the dang media. I just don’t know how large that cabal is who will stay the distance with Cain in a protest against the media. Cain has been in awhile and still can’t get into double digit millions, though this scandal has helped some.
Newt may not be totally reliable, but if the destruction of H Cain succeeds, he is worlds better than mittens. BTW his agenda on his webpage is very solid, he admits his mistake with Pelosi and he has defended H Cain which the other candidates have not.
” Unless conservatives learn to deal with the destruction of their frontrunner, none of them will win.” <<<<
You have a point. That rebellion out here against the media will account for Cain support as much as for the man himself.
I don’t even think of Mitt as a candidate, it never even crosses my mind. Seriously.
People writing off Newt Gingrich are insane. He is clearly the most knowledgable, articulate candidate running. That matters. His 21st Century Contract w/ America is the biggest, boldest, and best plan out there. ....and his vow to force Obama into the seven, 3-hour Lincoln/Douglas debates is something no other candidate has the ability.... or balls.... to pull off.
Be honest about the other candidates....
Mitt Romney has Romneycare. That is an absolutely horrible thing he will not be able to sufficiently explain away. He is a bigger flip-flopper than John Kerry.
Cain: C’mon. He is is smart, nice guy. Great story. But he clearly was out of his league on stage with Newt. 999 has no realistic chance. It may be a tough pill to swallow for you Cain people, but be honest.... he is not prepared to be president. He just isn’t.
Perry: Crashed and burned for good reason. He can barely complete a sentence. His “illegal alien yardworker” attack on Romney was the lamest thing I have ever seen. ....especially since Romney was already attacked for this back in 2007. Perry comes off as a dunce that just spews out, poorly, the talking points his advisors feed him. Terrible.
Santorum: Good guy. Great experience. Can’t get past 2%.
Paul: Half brilliant, half nuts. Will never appeal to more than the 7% or 8 % he currently does.
Bachmann: Crashed pretty hard. Fairly solid on issues, but sounds like half broken record/half saleswoman. Will never again be a top-tier candidate this election.
Huntsman: Wasting his time and money.
I have supported Newt before the 2008 election when it looked like he might get in. I followed Newt closely between then and now. I supported Newt when he got in the race at about 12%. I supported Newt when he was down to 3% and his candidacy declared “dead”. I continue to back and preach Newt Gingrich. He has the potential to be one of our great presidents. Newt is bouncing back on substance... in spite of the media. Quit believing the media narrative that “Newt can’t win” ....or “Newt has too much baggage.” That is all BS. Romneycare is real baggage because Obamacare was modeled off of it, and it negatively affects everyone in the country. Now is the time for you doubters to give Newt that second chance.
I’m beginning to think this is Newt’s moment. Substantively, he’s head and shoulders above the other candidates. He can shred the liberal pretentions of Obama and the left wing media with ease. He’ll have a compelling case for restoring American exceptionalism; all they’ll have is dirt. With the country in such peril, substance will win.
I believe Newt will continue to rise. For how long who can say? It is apparent that the JOBS guy with all the goods to lift the country out of the dumper, Rick Perry, has been slumped, over misunderstanding of Texas’ choosing state tuition for offspring of illegals, along with 14 other states. So, Gingrich is a contender for those of us who are after a well experienced candidate, after Obama.
Newt Gingrich on Catholicism and JPII
Why Newt Gingrich Converted to Catholicism
Exclusive: Newt Gingrich Opens Up on Catholic Conversion and Embracing 'Overt Christianity'
Newt Gingrich on his conversion to Catholicism
Gingrich Keeps Quiet on Catholic Conversion (received into Church over the past weekend)
Exclusive: Newt Gingrich conversion details; plans release of JP2 documentary
Gingrich to Become Catholic During Easter Season
The Newt Evangelization: Gingrich to become Catholic
Problem is that Rove and the beltway crowd is throwing in with Mittens and trying to kill the Tea Party Newt has attacked Obama the dems and their media and not savaged other pub candidates. Defending Cain when he didn’t have to and the MSM assault on Cain would benefit him means a lot to me, and IMo says a lot about his character at this time.
Gov. Perry wasn't slumped because of a misunderstanding, he was slumped because he called those who disagreed with him "heartless".
A politician responding to a conservative argument with a liberal ad hominem is going to get you slumped...every time.
I think he was defending Cain because of his own past baggage. It’d look very hypocritical if he didn’t.
Dirt works really well in case you haven’t noticed...
He could have said nothing..... he didn’t.
As opposed to Romney trying to take advantage of it.
Neither have I.
I have been anti-Big D ever since Bork/Thomas and have been voting Big R by default.
PS.....Go Newt!
For me it was always Palin or Gingrich.
Not interested in the turn-coat Newt Gingrich after he supporting Scozzafaza over the conservative in NY23.
The guy cannot be trusted.
He may be smart, but he ain’t leadership material.
CAIN!!
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