It has long been my belief that Newt will jump into the 2008 race. His ego is just too large to avoid doing so, and, after all, you don’t go around talking about your wife like this: “She’s not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of a President” and then end up not running for President.
Well, it now appears Newt has taken some steps toward a run and his spokesman has given us clues as to when his announcement will come. From the Politico this morning:
Newt Gingrich has hired a pollster and a fundraiser, but not for a presidential campaign at least not yet… According to a report filed last week with the IRS, the group in March added a fundraiser and a pollster, positions crucial to a typical campaign team. The report also shows the group spent $300,000 on travel, salaries, radio advertising and other expenses that look pretty similar to those racked up by traditional political campaigns.
Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler, who is not paid by the group, stressed that American Solutions is not preparing for a Gingrich presidential run… Dabrowski won’t poll on Gingrich’s name identification, Tyler said, but rather on the best ways to frame American Solutions’ ideas “strategic polling,” in Gingrich-speak. Lance, who has raised money for campaigns and the Republican National Committee, will bring in cash to execute American Solutions’ plans.
Uh huh… your political group hires a pollster only for the purpose of polling Americans on what the best way to frame your solutions would be? Yeah, and I’ve got some land to sell to you… it’s oceanfront and everything…
The spokesman goes on to say that if Newt ever really, truly decides to run, he will announce soon after “Solutions Day” – the national day Newt’s organization has set up to commemorate the Contract With America and to present the group’s new ideas for solutions to America’s problems.
Why do I get the feeling that one of those solutions is going to be Newt running for President?
It could be because they already have their campaign planned out. Solutions Day is September 27th, and according to Newt’s spokesman, who may have said too much, the exploratory stage of their campaign would last through November 1, and then he would begin the campaign in earnest. If he decided to run, that is.
What are Newt’s chances? According to Rasmussen, he has almost the same negative ratings (48%) and a higher percentage of people who say they’ll never vote for the man (49%) than Hillary Clinton. But those facts evidently will not be enough to keep Newt – or his ego – out of this race.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I have to go, and will be back later tonight, but had to just point out:
Newt is turning into a bit of an egomaniac. He’s brilliant, but completely nuts. I’m going to let it go at that.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Come on in, Newt, the water’s fine.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:10 am
I do not understand why so many people got on Giuliani’s case about not running seriously a couple of months ago but yet think it’s fine with Newt and F. Thompson? If Romney and McCain got all of the top support and left Giuliani with scraps, what does that leave Thompson & Newt have to work with since Giuliani has been actually running now?
April 24th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I have been saying from the beginning that people are in complete denial if they think that Newt isn’t running.
Even if it’s just to set himself up for 2012 should the GOP lose in 2008, Newt will run.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Kavon, you and I are in complete agreement here.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:18 am
You Gingrich cheerleaders are in total denial. Gingrich is unelectable in a
general election.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:27 am
My statements were that Newt will run. I made no comment re: him winning the nomination or the general.
Although I have to say that I am guilty of deep admiration and respect for speaker Gingrich.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:23 am
A few thoughts on a Gingrich run…
If Newt were to run against Hillary (both with identical 47% ‘unfavorables’), he would no longer be unelectable.
Gingrich has said repeatedly that he’d enter the race only if there’s no clear frontrunner by September.
Newt is well-positioned to win the nomination should Rudy and/or McCain falter. CW is that a run by FDT dooms Romney’s campaign, and if Thompson’s conservative bona fides and stage presence don’t impress in contrast to the erudite, articulate Gingrich, Newt will find himself the top choice amongst the party base. Without being in the race, Gingrich is already running a close 3rd behind Rudy and McCain for 2nd choice.
Rudy 21%
McCain 18%
Gingrich 16%
Romney 10%
F. Thompson 6%
That said, if forced to bet, my money goes on Newt being Rudy’s running mate in ’08.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:29 am
As a very dedicated Newt Gingrich supporter, while I would love to say that these hirings are signals that he will run, it is simply not the case. American Solutions has always been billed as an organization that would come up with ideas and then poll American support for them. As of now, Gingrich always cites poll numbers from other institutions, but now they have finally decided to
Believe me when I say this: everything Newt Gingrich does up until September 30 will be designed for American Solutions, not 2008. Really.
“Why do I get the feeling that one of those solutions is going to be Newt running for President?”
Very simple, because you are a cynic.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Argo, hasn’t that ‘CW’ been debunked several times already on this site?
Is anyone else here skeptical of the ‘look at these poll numbers … and he’s not even running!’ comments? If someone isn’t running, it typically means they aren’t getting as critical a scrutiny from the press, or significant attacks from other candidates. It’s just as easy that their poll numbers would go down when they enter the race as that they would go up, IMHO – depending on the candidate. For example, Newt has huge name recognition – but virtually no one is applying the same scrutiny to him as they are to Giuliani, McCain, or Romney …
April 24th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I’m not able to wrap my mind around those delusional posters who continually promote a Giuliani/Gingrich. Are they insane? Have they forgotten that this is the Republican party we’re talking about? The party of values? Having Gingrich at the bottom of the ticket is just about the only way I can see Rudy losing a general election to Hillary. So just stop it. Having a ticket with double digit, between the husbands and the wives, is really too much for any “family values” voter to bear.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Edit : I’m not able to wrap my mind around those delusional posters who continually promote a Giuliani/Gingrich. Are they insane? Have they forgotten that this is the Republican party we’re talking about? The party of values? Having Gingrich at the bottom of the ticket is just about the only way I can see Rudy losing a general election to Hillary. So just stop it. Having a ticket with double digit “marriages”, between the husbands and the wives, is really too much for any “family values” voter to bear.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
The only good thing about Newt running is the wonderful glow I’ll feel when he tumbles on his fanny. The man is a hypocrite of the worst kind and is a black stain on the Republican Party.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Does anyone else get excited by catchy names like American Solution’s “Solutions Day” or McCain’s “Straight Talk Express”? It just makes me feel so posative. Do people go for those kinds of fun titles? I love Newt and McCain, but I’m just wondering….
April 24th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Could someone please respond to comment # 3?
April 24th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Mike B: I don’t know about FDT, but if Newt has really been planning on a bid all along as many seem to suspect, I’m sure he thinks he’s got his ducks all in a row for campaign staff/ground game. He’s not exactly a newcomer to political races. He’s been critical of everyone else all along for starting so early, and I’m sure, in his mind, he’s been doing things right to position himself for a run up to this point.
Matt: while i don’t think its right for people to condemn Bill Clinton for immorality, and give Newt a pass, it happens quite a bit because they like him and his ideas, and are looking for any possible way to ignore his personal shortcomings. Perhaps the “values” that are important to the conservatives that would want Newt in the white house (as VP or Pres) are the ones he so often talks about – bringing God back into our culture, and reinforcing and understanding of civic responsability for example.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Im actually happy about all this speculation of Fred, and now Gingrich jumping in… its getting people very tired of the race and it makes Rudy look more and more like the solid, stand-by-me candidate you can count on.
Mike B to answer #3 I honestly think that Giuliani is/was different because he is so popular.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Ok, you said he was getting a late start and he was popular.
What does that make Thompson? He is not popular and is getting a really late start.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I think Fred Thompson pretty much takes out all the air of a Gingrich run.
I have some very fond memories of our former Speaker of the House. I also have some rather not-so-fond memories of him. I would prefer to remember him for the former. If he runs, the later will be dedged up. Newt will be humiliated.
Don’t do it, Newt. Your time is past. Enjoy your role as an elder statesman.
April 24th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
He’d make a great Senator though.