Slumping Gingrich promises sharper counter-punch

Reuters ^ | Tue Dec 20, 2011 | Mark Felsenthal

[presidio9]

Slipping in polls under an onslaught of attacks, Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich promises to wage a sharper and more aggressive campaign in the final two weeks before Iowa kicks off the party's nominating race.

Gingrich says he will be quicker to respond to attacks and more agile in getting his message across to voters who may have lost faith in him after rivals launched a withering barrage of criticism of his past as a Washington insider.

A 44-stop bus tour in the run-up to the January 3 Iowa caucus, daily calls with supporters to respond to new criticisms and another round of television ads will be cornerstones of the response by Gingrich, who will focus most of his efforts in Iowa for the next two weeks.

"I think a certain amount of drop in polls was to be expected given the amount of negative campaigning that has been going on," said Linda Upmeyer, the Iowa House Republican leader and the state chairwoman of Gingrich's campaign.

"But there are a lot of people out there who have not made up their minds yet," she said. "The challenge is to make sure that people have accurate information, and to get them the facts as quickly as we can."

The question for Gingrich will be whether he has enough time to rebound in the two weeks left to campaign in Iowa or if he has begun a political free-fall that will be hard to stop.

"The problem is he has probably waited too long," said Craig Robinson, former political director for the Iowa Republican Party. "This is the frantic finish. The clock might run out on him."

Gingrich, the former

[Theodore R.]

Newton angers too many, makes them stroke-prone. Switch to Santorum.

[Theodore R.]

Rick Santorum won’t embarrass us to the extent the others will, as he carries much less baggage. He’s an attractive and articulate candidate, but many don’t see.

[no dems]

A 44-stop bus tour in the run-up to the January 3 Iowa caucus, daily calls with supporters to respond to new criticisms and another round of television ads will be cornerstones of the response by Gingrich,
Newt is a fighter; not a little wuss who runs from the fight like Pawlenty and Cain.

[no dems]

Rick Santorum won’t embarrass us to the extent the others will, as he carries much less baggage. He’s an attractive and articulate candidate, but many don’t see.
EXACTLY! I look for Rick Santorum to be the "surprise" coming out of Iowa in 2012. We don't need a candidate who will give us an October surprise in 2012. He is young and attractive and will be a great counter point to Obozo.

[no dems]

Newton angers too many, makes them stroke-prone. Switch to Santorum.

I could live with either; Newt or Santorum. There is no other candidate in the GOP field right now that excites me at all.

[presidio9]

Newt is a fighter; not a little wuss who runs from the fight like Pawlenty and Cain.

Give me a case example, then give me your candidate, and I will provide an identical example.