Well, it isn’t the delegate contest, but still seems odd.
I’m worried about candidates here in Virginia, just because I’ve only seen one petition yet, for Herman Cain (I signed it, of course). I’ve even sent e-mails to several campaigns, and now Gingrich sends me lots of e-mails, but still nothing about getting petitions.
In 2008, Duncan Hunter failed to get enough signatures.
Yes, the MO delegate contest is later in the campaign cycle.
I would add that Newt lags in funding.
No sense Newt spending his precious little money campaigning in MO in early February where he can't earn delegates.