Posted on 11/19/2011 1:58:34 PM PST by TitansAFC
SAN DIEGO — Newt Gingrich got his new spot atop the GOP presidential field the old-fashioned way: He earned it.
You have to give him credit. And you have to respect his remarkable climb to the upper tier of GOP candidates.
After all, this is a candidate whose campaign was, just a few months ago, running on empty. Political experts all pronounced the Gingrich campaign over and done with.
But the ace up Gingrich's sleeve is that he rarely has a problem saying exactly what is on his mind, and — as someone whom Republican constituents and political pundits alike often describe as the smartest person in this race — he has a lot on his mind. The former House speaker is a master communicator, and Republican voters are hungry for someone who can express his views well.
Add to that a series of strong debates. While political observers say Rick Perry and Herman Cain have hurt their campaigns with poor performances, the opposite is true for Gingrich. Lately, whenever he debates his poll numbers go up. Part of this might be that many Republicans say they would love for Gingrich to be the party's nominee if for no other reason than to see him go one-on-one with Barack Obama. Now the second look that Gingrich is getting from voters has led him to first place.
A Fox News poll shows that Gingrich's support among GOP primary voters has doubled in the last three weeks — from 12 percent to 23 percent. Perry and Cain have lost support, and much of it seems to have found its way to Gingrich. Mitt Romney is stuck at 22 percent.
And, among those conservative voters who are part of the influential tea party movement, Gingrich is the top pick of 35 percent while Cain has the support of 20 percent and Romney is backed by just 15 percent. Not all the news is positive, however. Gingrich is still saddled with enough personal baggage to fill an airplane hangar.
There is the personal; both of his earlier marriages ended because of his infidelity, something he later tried to shrug off by telling an interviewer that he had made mistakes in his married life because he was working too hard. And the professional; Gingrich is currently fending off reporters' questions about his relationship with Freddie Mac. His consulting outfit, the Gingrich Group, was paid between $1.6 million and $1.8 million to offer what Gingrich claims was “strategic advice over a long period of time” to the government-backed mortgage lender.
There may still be more skeletons in this closet. But in the end, GOP primary voters might not care. In a struggling economy plagued with a flood of foreclosures and high unemployment, they might conclude that they're not as worried about a candidate's finances nearly as much as they are their own. And they may resent the media for trying to tell them that they should feel otherwise, and appreciate even more the fact that
Gingrich is so good at putting reporters in their place.
What makes his surge so impressive is that Gingrich has done it not through a massive infusion of funding, or with a national organization that comes from having run for president before, or by being the darling of the media. He has done it on perseverance and determination, and by showcasing his strengths. He has earned his new standing in the polls and his return to the spotlight through something as simple as talent and hard work. That's the way it ought to be.
There is no doubt that Gingrich is a divisive and polarizing figure. In fact, in that regard, he is not unlike the last three occupants of the White House.
But, as we have now learned, Gingrich is also a fighter who hits hard and doesn't give up. Come to think of it, those might not be bad qualities to have in a president.
Why thank you sir MHGinTN....am listening now..and sent out to my e-mail list. :)
I absolutely agree. But presidential elections in this country aren't about picking the best man (or woman) for the job. Unfortunately, one has to be electable by the masses, and lately the masses just want a rock star with charisma.
I wish Newt could be president. He would shake things up and make some significant changes. But his image and baggage are going to keep him from the Oval Office. It's just the way it is.
I will be happy if I am wrong.
Me too and I'm on board with his plans, These are BIG plans. ....but remember he did say the need for feedback because some of it isn't going to work and he wants to know that asap not after the fact when they don't appear to be working or to see why they won't from the get go....
I have to say after listening to this video Newt makes it clear he wants to bring our government to where it's functioning within this century....and give back the states much of the governing the gov. now does....but it is a two prong thing...the states will have to do their part to position themselves for that transfer...some who get many handouts from Gov. are not going to yield to this. All in all it's a great plan and I look forward to what will be added and revised along the way as people volunteer their input to get it right.
I could have agreed with you before our country became such a disaster....but the public is far more informed now of the Obama failures and that his direction is taking us down. Further they don't care about the baggage because Newt's pretty much been given a clean slate...either by the courts who found him not guilty...and also by his family who now are with him in this run...and most importantly Newt has God's forgiveness and been given that cclean slate now to do it all right.
I'm for it all 100% because we really have nothing to loose if Newt's wrong....and everything to gain if he's right! and that's just how people are now looking at Newt...he has the goods to pull this off, he has the will and the direction he needs, and those who will come along side when he gets there...
So "fret not"...if we ever had a chance to turn this ship rapidly around by an expereinced captain...Newt's the one to do it.
I hope you are right and I am wrong.
Time will tell but voters are as fickle as can be....they did vote for Obama after all...even with all the warnings out there. So who knows for certain, especially since I can see the democrates pulling some serious stunts before this is a done deal.
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