MyDD :: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy

Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy

by Jonathan Singer, Tue May 15, 2007 at 01:15:08 AM EST

I've been under the impression for quite some time that Newt Gingrich would eventually announce that he is indeed running for the presidency in 2008. If his latest appearance on ABC's Good Morning America is any indication, Newt certainly isn't shying away from stoking interest among the politics-watchers in his potential candidacy.

Newt Gingrich for president? It could happen.

In an interview with Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America," the former Republican speaker of the House said there was a "great possiblity" that he would run for president.

He will make that decision sometime in the fall. Sawyer noted that previously Gingich had only said he was "thinking about" a run for president.

[...]

Gingrich took time to assess the field of declared candidates and said he wan't happy with the current contenders.

There's an extent to which I don't want to become excessively giddy about the potential that Newt Gingrich will be the Republican presidential candidate in 2008. After all, stranger things have happened in American politics than a disgraced former House Speaker who admitted having an affair while persecuting a sitting President for doing the same being elected President. Perhaps not much stranger things have happened, but certainly stranger things have happened.

That said, I'm still looking forward to a run by Newt. The Georgian, of course, is remarkably unpopular for someone who has been out of office for nearly a decade. If you look back at his numbers from his time as Speaker, it becomes apparent why Americans still have such a poor impression of Newt. According to polling from The Washington Post and ABC News, Newt's approval rating as Speaker never topped 41 percent, though it dipped as low as 26 percent. His disapproval rating capped out at 65 percent -- Bush territory -- and averaged about 52 percent (with his median disapproval coming in a point lower).

The Democrats are already in a fairly strong position to retake the White House in 2008. Certainly, the political climate can change and the Democrats can squander this opportunity. But currently, the Democrats are crushing the Republicans in terms of fundraising and a generic Democrat beats a generic Republican in a presidential matchup by 19 points (.pdf). Given his unpopularity among the American people, perhaps Newt Gingrich is just the Republican candidate to lose to the Democratic presidential nominee by that 19-point margin...

Tags: Newt Gingrich, 2008 Republican Primaries (all tags)

Permalink :: 24 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

The Republican implosion has been a group effort, so sure, why not. Newt would be a great and quite apropos addition to the "Dream Team" from hell.

I suspect that even Kucinich might beat him.

by kovie on Tue May 15, 2007 at 01:40:59 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Gingrich is as electable as Dennis is. However, the wingnuts right now feel that the current crop of candidates on the R side are a bunch of imposters. In their desire to see a "real conservative" run, Newt may just get the call.

If he gets the nomination, these are the only states he will carry:

Texas
Mississippi
Georgia
South Carolina
Alabama

And I bet those states are close, especially if Obama or Edwards is the candidate.

"The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country." - Robert F. Kennedy

by dmfox on Tue May 15, 2007 at 04:37:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Oops, I forgot Utah.

"The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country." - Robert F. Kennedy

by dmfox on Tue May 15, 2007 at 04:38:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I wouldn't be too gleeful! (none / 0)

Take a look at this! Mayor Bloomberg is preparing a run as a 3rd party candidate, and he's willing to spend up to $1 billion of his $5.5 billion empire to do it!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/ 20070515-123142-3314r.htm

That makes Ross Perot's candidacy look like a amateur theatrical performance!

This could seriously screw up the entire election. Right now, independents are swinging Democratic and are providing virtually the entire margin by which Democrats won control of Congress in 2006.

They will be no less important in 2008.

But, if Bloomberg runs he will steal most of his votes from the Democratic candidate! Remember he's a liberal on social issues (such as abortion and prayer in schools, gun control, etc.), but a "fiscal conservative" whatever that means today.

So, he'd instantly be a HUGE threat to Hillary or Obama.

The Republican loyalists are Sheeple who will march to the polls.

So, what if NEWT wins the nomination and Bloomberg splits the vote? Then there's a complete meltdown in which the Republican could easily win with the same 33% of hard core brain-dead Republicans that still support Bush! In that scenario, hard-core party loyalty will count for more than broad-based appeal. If Newt wins around 80%-85% of the Republican vote (Bloomberg peals off maybe 5%-10%) while Hillary or Obama wins 70-80% of the Democratic vote, while Bloomberg wins a majority of independents, Newt WINS! Bloomberg steals more votes from Obama or Hillary than from Newt, tipping the election to the Republicans.

We just LIVED this scenario remember? Joe Lieberthug? He split the Democratic vote, won the indpendents and a majority of Republicans and handily won re-election. While Bloomberg wouldn't win 1/3 of the Democratic vote (probably) he wouldn't need to, to tilt the election to Newt or any other right-wing Republican candidate!

This could be a nightmare scenario, where America has to endure ANOTHER hard-right scumbag in office, packing the court with Scalia clones and promoting another generation of cronyism and corruption at home and endless disastrous wars abroad!

by Cugel on Tue May 15, 2007 at 05:26:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I wouldn't be too gleeful! (none / 0)

Relax, it's not going to happen. If Bloomberg runs, it'll be to win, not spoil. And he knows that he can only do that by getting a lot of Repub votes, because he's simply not going to get a lot of Dem votes. MAYBE 10%, generously. This is the presidential, not NYC mayoral election, and the situation is quite different (I'm from NYC). I doubt that he'd get a majority of indies, either, since we'll almost certainly have a moderate left nominee (which all the top candidates are) whom indies shouldn't have a problem voting for. So I see him stealing many more Repub or Repub-leaning votes than Dem or Dem-leaning votes--especially if he puts a conservative like Hagel on the ticket. Even then, though, I don't see him winning--and if he by some miracle did win , it would still be 10000% times better than any Repub. But let's not scare ourselves with visions of phantoms quite yet.

by kovie on Wed May 16, 2007 at 05:01:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

I think he is flirting with it but, I don't think he will do it in the end.
He likes the attention and flattering but, he will shy away.
From things I've read about him he is most likely manic depressive.

by vwcat on Tue May 15, 2007 at 02:02:21 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

From WorldNetDaily:

Gingrich is looking to expand the Contract with America by stopping the slide toward secularism by the courts and government schools, and put the Creator back as the source of all liberties.

Well, that's a winning strategy. Worked really well back a couple of years in Florida.

by ATinNM on Tue May 15, 2007 at 02:05:51 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Please, Please, Please!!

This guy is a twenty per cent candidate. He will get the 20% of the population that has a high opinion of Bush, and another 10-20% of the "real" vote. He will make George McGovern look like a winner in presidential elections, by popular vote. He will get all the sickies in the south( and there are tons of them leftover from the Dixiecrat years), a few racists that have always been Repugs, and, IMHO, about 20% of the voters that are not blind sheep, but not the sharpest pencils in a 1st grader's desk either.

I can't wait for Newt to announce. America will one step closer to what a great country we were before our boy King decided to turn us into a Banana Republic.

by ocdemocrat on Tue May 15, 2007 at 02:18:59 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Based on a few balanced sites I post on, the right wingers love Newt but they basically ignore him since they don't think he has any chance to win a general election.

I have no idea if stuff like that will hold up once the voting begins, but it's been a persistent theme for more than a year.

by Gary Kilbride on Tue May 15, 2007 at 02:37:02 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Talk about a three ring circus.

John McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Tue May 15, 2007 at 02:37:24 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (3.00 / 1)

now I know why republicans are hoping we give em Hillary, her "negatives" are the only hope Republicans have. Newt will not be the GOP nominee they don't have the same history of nominating unlikeable general election candidates we do.

Obama! because 51% isn't enough!

by nevadadem on Tue May 15, 2007 at 02:38:17 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Yes they do. They just win with their unlikeable general election candidates (see: Nixon, Richard M.)

"You say the world has lost it's love I say embrace what it's made of" -Dar Williams

by Valatan on Tue May 15, 2007 at 10:45:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Lord, hear my prayer, Run Newt Run!

by howardpark on Tue May 15, 2007 at 03:35:58 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (3.00 / 1)

I've been looking forward to a Giuliani-Gingrich ticket, just so I can call them "The Scarlet Letters."

by folkbum on Tue May 15, 2007 at 06:20:01 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

My dream matchup would be Gingrich-Obama. Division v Unity in a steel-cage death match. Let's get it on and brand these parties for a generation.

by BriVT on Tue May 15, 2007 at 08:32:08 AM EST

If Gingrich and Thompson runs Giuliani will win (none / 0)

because the religious right vote will be split with Rudy getting the moderate and fiscal conservative vote.

by redstatehatemonitor on Tue May 15, 2007 at 08:38:37 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Gingrich will announce as a reaction to Gore's announcement. Battle of the black horse true believers.

by chrisp on Tue May 15, 2007 at 09:28:17 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

IMO, he will never actually run but is hoping a Liberal Republican wins and chooses him as a VP candidate.

by ND1979 on Tue May 15, 2007 at 09:59:32 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

He served on the Defense Policy Board, and represented the district, defense contractor Lockheed Martin is in.. As a result his district took in more federal money than any district in the US.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:BDM RHnfuMF4J:www.faqs.org/ftp/usenet/news.a nswers/celebrities/michael-moore-faq/par t2+lockheed+gingrich+moore+cobb+county&a mp;hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us& amp;client=opera

Just read about Lockheed's ties to the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id= 14307

If he were nominated I would truly love exposing these numerous ties to the defense industry and the neocon war hawks.

Dameocrat Blog also Stray Roots Messageboard

by Dameocrat on Tue May 15, 2007 at 10:45:39 AM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (3.00 / 0)

Newt's just trying to sell his book, and this seeming flirtation is just his way of getting attention (seems to be working for him so far).

by viperlmw on Tue May 15, 2007 at 11:31:51 AM EST

Diane Rehm (none / 0)

Did anybody else catch the Diane Rehm show this morning where Gingrich skipped out after only 40 minutes when he had committed to be on the show for the whole hour? Diane was PISSED and she kept saying so: "I am so very annoyed that Speaker Gingrich did not fulfill his commitment to be here for the whole hour." Not classy, Newt.

by lorax on Tue May 15, 2007 at 12:04:23 PM EST

Re: Diane Rehm (none / 0)

It took her this long to realize that classy and Newt Gingrich don't belong in the same sentence?

John McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Tue May 15, 2007 at 12:07:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Newtie's giving the commencement speech at Liberty U this coming Saturday, and because Falwell has gone to a hotter place, there will be a bunch of free media.

by Nina Katarina on Tue May 15, 2007 at 03:46:06 PM EST

Re: Salivating Over a Gingrich Candidacy (none / 0)

Wow. According the poll you cite, there are more Republicans who think Iraq is the most important issue facing the US today, and oppose the war, than Republicans who think Iraq is the most important issue facing the US today, and support the war.

Just wow.

The truth about McCain

by nstrauss on Tue May 15, 2007 at 04:58:26 PM EST

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