Free Republic

When Republican naysayers were mocking Donald Trump's improbable White House campaign before the primaries started, Newt Gingrich was reading "Trump: The Art of the Deal." It was a pivotal part of Gingrich's introduction to Trump -- and the beginning of an almost scholarly undertaking to understand the making of the man who would go on to seize his party's nomination for president. Months later, as the GOP prepares to coronate Trump at its convention, the former House Speaker has emerged one of Trump's most high-profile supporters and even secured himself a top spot on the billionaire's vice presidential shortlist. Gingrich...

A day after former Newt Gingrich called Donald Trump's latest comments on Judge Gonzalo Curiel "inexcusable," the presumptive Republican nominee fired back at the former House speaker, who has largely been supportive of his candidacy. "As far as Newt is concerned, I saw Newt," Trump told "Fox & Friends" on Monday after the show played clips of Hillary Clinton and Gingrich denouncing his remarks speculating that Curiel's Mexican heritage represented a conflict of interest in the cases against Trump University over which he is presiding. "I was surprised at Newt. I thought it was inappropriate what he said."

Newt Gingrich’s prospects of joining the Republican presidential ticket as Donald Trump’s running mate are expected to get a boost from mega donor Sheldon Adelson, say three conservatives with links to Gingrich or the casino billionaire. Adelson has pledged $100m to back Trump’s White House bid – and the sources familiar with Adelson and Gingrich said they think close ties between the two men who share ardent and hawkish pro-Israel views, should help the former House speaker’s chances. Adelson has long been close to Gingrich, who had a hand in convincing him to back Trump last month, and the Las...

Really interesting stuff from National Review's Eliana Johnson, whose latest campaign dispatch sheds light on just how close Newt Gingrich has become with the presumptive Republican nominee -- and how hard the former House Speaker is said to be lobbying behind the scenes for a spot on the ticket. Are you ready for Trump/Gingrich 2016, America? Gingrich has, in effect, launched his own campaign to secure the nomination. “I think Newt is lobbying to be the vice president, and I think their people are paying a lot of attention to him,” says Ed Rollins, a Republican operative and former Gingrich...

In about 28 hours, the Republican Party will be, for all intents and purposes, stuck with Todd Akin. The Missouri Senate candidate has shown no signs of bowing to pressure from the national party to get out of the race after his controversial comment about “legitimate rape” turned the race on its head. And though the party initially held out hope that Akin would change his mind at some point over the past month, it now appears that ship has sailed. The technical deadline for being able to replace Akin on the ballot, if he dropped out, is Tuesday. But...