Posted on 01/31/2012 5:13:30 AM PST by humblegunner
WASHINGTON (AP) — The caffeinated, rapid-fire GOP presidential primary is about to ease into a slower pace and a more spread-out map, creating new challenges for Newt Gingrich.
February will bring several primaries and caucuses likely to lack the intensity of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida. It has only one debate, three weeks from now. And the month contains contests in three states with significant Mormon presences — Nevada, Arizona and Colorado — and in Michigan, where Mitt Romney's father was governor.
All these factors could pose problems for Gingrich, the former House speaker who is struggling to keep pace with Romney in Tuesday's Florida primary.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
The author suggest Romney will be popular among Mormons.
Really? You think? It seems to me that should the powers-that-be
get their way and Romney is nominated the media will suddenly
discover that Romney is a Mormon and start delving into the
whacky aspects of Mormonism and slime Mittens up real good.
If I controlled a network or a PAC I'd have started sliming him already.
Yeah, it's underhanded and unseemly.
But it's going to happen anyway, so why not let Gingrich benefit from it instead of Obama?
"If Gingrich can make it to Super Tuesday, he might enjoy yet another resurgence. States voting that day include Georgia, which Gingrich represented in Congress for 20 years, and neighboring Tennessee.
But Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot in Virginia, which also votes that day, as does Romney's home state of Massachusetts. Neighboring Vermont and Mormon-friendly Idaho also are Super Tuesday states. The others are Alaska, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma."
Is this an analysis of what Newt is up against or an analysis of why Newt can't make it? Maybe it's just me, but this whole article seemed to pretty much dismiss whatever strengths and opportunities Newt has and focused on the negatives. Like I say, maybe it's just me, but as far as I can tell this is just subtle spin for Romney. Is this author always this way? Regards
I don't know, I've never heard of him.
I am not feeling upbeat about newt and florida today. I could scream for newt’s pathetic debate performances, lack of early voting initiatives, poor campaigning etc. It doesnt look like Sarah can perform another miracle, and the old folks in FLA seem to have forgotten obamney death panels. Newt needs a debate coach and a campaign team to get him going or its all over and the tea party demise has started.
I’m feeling a little down this a.m. too. I even woke up a couple of times during the night dreading today and all the biased reports we will hear all day long.
But last I saw, Newt was still leading nationally. He will need to fight hard against the lies that Mitt so easily lets roll off his tongue during debates AND his ads.
Newt needs a debate coach? Are you serious?
I guess its a moral victory if newt finishes below 8? He was outspent $16M to $4M but he made numerous mistakes and I could scream!!
In the 60's and there is no one left in MI that was there when the mexican born jorge romney was the gubbernor.
Mittens is not a favorite son in Michigan.
Actually, I think to know Romney is to despise him. The more people see of him and the more they hear about him, the less they’ll like him.
Gingrich, on the other hand, has to make sure that he’s seen and heard as much as possible. He’s given some great, well-attended addresses here in Florida and I think that has swayed people who have been under a barrage of Romney propaganda (not speeches, because Romney is very poor at that and his addresses are not generally well attended).
Since the debates have turned into nothing but Romney carrying out lie-filled character attacks on Gingrich, I think they have lost a lot of their importance anyway.
As for the Mormons, there’s not much you can do about them; they’re going to vote for Romney no matter what, although I certainly think it wouldn’t hurt to get a little more information to the rest of the world about what Mormons really believe, which has more in common with Islam than with Christianity. Any religion that believes its male members are going to get their own planet when they die (stocked with those Muslim-style virgins, of course!) is not going to stand up to close examination.
That said, I don’t think Obama and the Dems will push the Mormon issue very much, because I don’t think they want to call attention to Obama’s Muslim religion.
Yes, I am serious. Why would you ask after what happened the last two debates? If mitt obamney, who has been running for president for 6 years, saw fit he needed a new debate coach, what is so super about newt and his ego that he wouldnt get a debate coach? I could have debated obamney better than newt did the last two fiascos.
Today depends on who turns out to vote in FL. Its gonna be close.
But win or lose FL was going to be a tough nut for Newt to win. More Moderate, Several different population groups.
Yes, it would be tough to win for newt being outcampaigned and outspent, but it could have been very close without newt’s self destruction in debates and othe missteps.
New tagline ...
good people are talking about the high mormon populations of the upcoming states. It is very important to keep getting the word out indirectly that Romney is Mormon since many low information voters do not know this yet.
I think we can point to problems with Newt — but our bigger problem is the ELECTORATE — the ignorant, ignorant voters!!
I think the Fix is in because they know how to manipulate these pidgeons, if nothing else.
Newt is too smart for a lot of people — pure and simple. People are FAR too lazy to go back and research anything, far too lazy to question the ads. It’s seriously horrible how dumb and gullible people are — but the SAME people will turn around and whine like babies about the economy — about their lost job, their lack of insurance, their forclosed home.
I can’t stand it!!!
Except Gingrich probably won both of the last debates.
Ode to the Grand Olde Party, and their BFF, the Obamanator.
When Newt or Paul rocks the GOP Establishment Boat,
The GOP oarsmen pull knives from their boots.
The hacking and slashing puts extreme fighting to shame,
Never, no NEVER rock the GOP Establishment Boat!
The GOP cannot win elections, by choice of their suits,
A RINO Nominee is a Democrat, - - - - one and the same.
Two Party as One Party is what they adore.
“Never give voters a choice,” ( or politicians
Are out of life-time jobs, - - forever more).
As we pay our bills holding our noses as we vote,
The Obamanator holds his cold, steel knife
To America’s throat - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .
While some of that may be true, the real issue is Santorum. As long as Santorum is in the race the negative ads will continue to work against Newt.
In a one on one negative ads alone wont cut it, you have to give people a reason to vote for you not just against someone else.
Newt would of won Florida easy if Santorum wasn’t in the race.
I absolutely agree with you LRJ that our biggest problem lies with the stupid American Idol drones who tune in the week before an election..and watch Brian Williams and Steffie every day.
They are also the ones who slobber over Diane Sawyer’s breathless interviews with a smiling Bam. “Tell me, Mr. President, does Malia really pick out your clothes in the morning?”
Lord remember Gideon.
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