Less than a month after one of the most calamitous political launchesin recent memory, former House speaker Newt Gingrich’s campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination imploded on Thursday, when its top officials quit en masse.
At least 16 of the former lawmaker’s advisers, including all of his senior campaign aides, departed the fledgling operation in a major and potentially devastating shake-up. Those who left included Gingrich’s campaign manager, his spokesman, top political strategists and key operatives from crucial GOP primary states. Former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue (R), who was Gingrich’s national campaign co-chairman, also defected, to the presidential campaign of former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty (R), where a close political aide to the ex-governor is the campaign manager.
Does this mean that Newt will drop out or will he hire new people? Is he a has-been? Newt stumbled coming out of the gate with his social engineering remark. He apparently was too moderate for the GOP.
His staff and he apparently had a falling out over his decision for him and his wife Callista to cruise the Greek Islands. They felt he needed to tend to getting elected.
Newt certainly seems to be the most cerebral of the candidates with lots of experience under his belt. I would hate to see him drop out, even with his flaws, he is a cut above many.
Does this mean that Newt will drop out or will he hire new people? Is he a has-been? Newt stumbled coming out of the gate with his social engineering remark. He apparently was too moderate for the GOP.
Newt will hire more people. He is a has-been. Its not that he’s too moderate. Its that he agrees with things that we don’t support, like AGW. He’s brilliant at solutions bit his mouth always gets him in trouble.
Where did you find out his staff’s reasons. All I could find was that they had differences on the direction of the campaign. Personally I think that Gov. Perry may be jumping in the race and they are jumping to him.
YAY!!!!!!
Happy happy joy joy.
Well, from what I have seen, the campaign people thought Newt was paying inadequate attention to the cause in three key early states: Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. They probably got fed up with doing all the ground work for insufficient gain. Can’t say I wouldn’t have felt the same. They most certainly remembered that Rudy Guliani blew his chances in 2008 by failing to focus on the early states. I also think there may have been some problems with campaign cash inflow. Newt apparently wanted to wage a campaign that was somehow “different” from that suggested by his senior aides. What that “different” means I haven’t a clue.
Cargo, WaPo and Politico, I think.
Buh-bye, Newt. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Yeah, Newt surprises me. He sounded like the smartest guy in the room two years ago, but he must have taken a hard knock on the head between then and announcing he was running. He was making bizarre mistakes, and he’d be better off stopping before he makes a real ass out of himself.
I was actually surprised that Newt entered the race. I am not surprised by his staff leaving him before he exits the race.
Quickest presidential campaign flame-out I can remember.
@Steve Thomas
It was the fastest I can remember too. It’s almost hard to believe. It’s like a horse tripping on its exit from the gate and face-planting!