Well, his name was George Bush. Same as the former President.
And that’s as famous a name as you could get.
GWB might not have been famous, but his name most certainly was, and that was enough to make him “top” Republican of 2000.
By the time the primaries actually rolled around, all the other potential “top” Republicans had dropped out. Quayle dropped out, Lamar Alexander dropped out, Elizabeth Dole dropped out. All 3 could’ve been “top” Republican, but it was Bush. It was Bush v McCain in the Primaries, and of those 2, Bush was the “top” Republican, based on the famous name.
I don’t think Gingrich is out by a long shot. McCain was doing terrible stuff we all hated in 2007, and he still won.
He wasn’t the “front runner”, wasn’t up in the polls, but he still won.
If you're claiming that name recognition is all that matters at this point in the primary process, you're correct. If you're claiming it's going to be determinative, you're very badly mistaken.