Gingrich Steps Off the Campaign Trail for the Weekend, Says He’s ‘Pacing’

thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ^ | 12/16/2011 | JEFF ZELENY

[TBBT]

OMAHA — With the final presidential debates of the year behind him, Newt Gingrich did not make his case to Iowa voters on Friday, but returned home to spend the weekend off the campaign trail.

“I’m pacing,” Mr. Gingrich said, smiling when asked to explain his schedule, with less than three weeks before the Iowa caucuses open the Republican nominating contest.

Mr. Gingrich, whose surging candidacy has been marked by his strong debate performances, suddenly has to rely on his organization and a debate-free final stretch of the first chapter of the race. He spent nearly 30 minutes shaking hands — across the Missouri River from Iowa, in Nebraska — as he prepared to fly home. He made small talk with well-wishers, but his spokesman, R.C. Hammond, declined to allow an interview.

[TBBT]

A Busy Day for Romney

Michele Bachmann and Mr. Perry both set out on tours of Iowa on Friday morning, beginning in the northwest section of Iowa as they aimed to work their way across the entire state before Christmas.

Whiff of Fred Thompson?

[edpc]

when asked to explain his schedule

Yet, the NYT never asks Obama to explain his golf outings and vacations.

[X-spurt]

From an old FredHead, you wish.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

You better get some debate training real fast, Obango!

[RockinRight]

Weird.

Perhaps he really can’t handle it...or, he feels that a later push may be more effective if he’s gone and comes back.

??

[Parley Baer]

I doubt he has the campaign cash of some of the other candidates have such as Mitt and Perry. He needs to spend his time and money wisely. For Michelle I understand that she is low on money and this will be a major effort for her in trying to break through into the top 3. If she gets that high maybe some more money will flow her way.

[TBBT]

Gingrich spends weekend with family

Periodic down time is not unusual for presidential candidates who typically keep to a hectic schedule of events.

Sure. But it's the timing of it that's in question.

[TitansAFC]

Internal numbers must have looked pretty good after the debate! Woo hoo!!!!

It won’t really be a break, though. He’ll wind-up doing interviews, etc. Just a Sat/Sun break from the trail.

Still, this give me confidence that they are seeing a bump after the debate; wonder how fundraising was yesterday and today?

[Gator113]

“Whiff of Fred Thompson? “

Not hardly. My bet is that he will be working at home. I see this as nothing more than a couple of days off, at best.

[PoloSec]

Should not be problem, unless he chooses to go to Hawaii./s