The man who could stop Romney

cnn.com ^ | 1/12/2012 | Ari Fleischer

[RoosterRedux]

There are now just two people standing between Mitt Romney and the GOP presidential nomination -- Newt Gingrich and Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire financier of Newt's super PAC.

All the other Republican candidates have faded, like Jon Huntsman, or they're about to fade, like Rick Santorum whose hot Iowa hand didn't last, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose decision to stay in the race is a South Carolina dream come true for Romney, and a real setback for southern politician Gingrich.

Gingrich, despite his many faults, is the only contender with enough stature to make this an ongoing race, especially with his friend's money keeping his hopes alive.

But for Newt to have any chance of stopping Romney, two things have to happen. First, everyone else needs to drop out (with the exception of Ron Paul, whose base is so independent that his appeal to voters in the remaining primaries, many of which have limited or no participation by independents, is diminishing before our eyes.) Second, Newt has to make the tough, personal decision that he's in it for the long haul.

Romney has run a strong race, but there remain many "not-Romney" voters in the GOP whose votes have been fruitlessly split among four or five other candidates. So long as Perry, Santorum and Gingrich are in the game, the game is over and Romney wins.

[bopdowah]

I’m absolutely convinced that Newt Gingrich is the junkyard dog we need to rip Obama a new one and send him running back to his Chicago slime pit with his tail between his legs. Newt has considerable DC experience as Speaker, executive ability from his many enterprises, and a silver tongue that’s razor sharp! He’s fast on his feet, delivers his messages straight up, and is often witty. His work with American Solutions was very impressive in that he was able to enunciate core principles with which the vast majority of Americans agree. He also has plenty of practical ideas for making government work better for taxpayers. Is Newt pure as the driven snow? No - none of the presidential candidates are. Whatever Newt’s “baggage”, it’s miniscule compared to Obama’s hidden closet skeletons and unlike Obama, Newt is 100% American. Newt is like Larry the Cable Guy: send him to DC and he’ll “Git ‘er done” for all of us. Junkyard dogs are not show dogs, but they’ll save your bacon! Go git ‘im, Newt!

[varina davis]

People are putting way too much emphasis on upcoming debates after the GOP nomination. I predict Obama will NOT agree to many “debates,” with whomever is nominated. He has way too much baggage to have it exposed by anyone, no matter how good a debater they are.

[SMARTY]

Correct!

However, I don’t think that “O” can sidestep at least ONE debate. And that one debate will be “O’s” ruin. I am sure of it.

“O” is demonstrably incompetent and has tons of baggage...as you say, but that is just the reason a debate with Newt will PUBLICLY reduce “O” to a puddle on the ground pretty quick!!