Is the Newt Gingrich character about to disappear? Now that his management team has walked out, there could be legitimate cause for concern.
The breakup of the Gingrich team, which included a top-to-bottom slate of aides in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Washington and Georgia, provided one of the biggest jolts yet to the 2012 Republican presidential campaign.
During a conference call on Wednesday, top strategists confronted Mr. Gingrich over what they believed was a lack of focus. They demanded that he spend 90 percent of his time in three early-voting states and curtail distractions like screenings of his documentaries. ...NYT
One commentator said Gringrich's team doesn't like his trip to the Greek isles and his spending habits in general -- "Mr. Gingrich spent $40,000 on a chartered Citation 10 jet" -- even though "while he was away on a cruise to Rhodes, Mykonos and other Greek islands, Mr. Gingrich said that he wrote two policy speeches."
Another remarked that this may signal the entry of Texas' Rick Perry into the race. "Governor Good Hair" could be fun to watch, too, but more like Chucky.
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McClatchy's David Lightman watches as the Republicans choose up sides.
On the eve of the first 2012 Republican presidential candidates' debate in this crucial state on Monday night, two distinct battles are underway: A split among diehard conservatives, and another within the more mainstream, willing-to-bend establishment GOP wing.
As a result, there's no clear favorite to win New Hampshire's GOP presidential primary early next year, traditionally the nation's first secret-ballot contest.
"I've never seen it so wide open," said state party chairman Jack Kimball.
The way many Democrats probably see it, it's a split between rightwing Republicans and the radical weirdos.
The more moderate wing includes candidates who built their reputations on fiscal conservatism, while largely agreeing with the far right on cultural issues. These candidates also have a history of compromise on major issues such as health care and environmental policy — and success in wooing independent, moderate voters in general elections.
This group includes former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has a big lead in the latest University of New Hampshire poll; former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
The more conservative branch includes businessman Herman Cain, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and still-undeclared candidate Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.
More and more Americans are troubled by the misuse of the word "conservative." But then we've had to put up with "war on terror' and "czars" and "patriot." Republican have been down in that dry canyon now for well over a decade, scrambling and fighting over false gold.
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No mention of Palin in the list, above. But she won't remain overlooked. The Hill reports that emails she sent as governor will be release today.
The release is expected to spark yet another media frenzy regarding Palin, who has generated buzz recently by traveling up and down the East Coast on a bus tour sponsored by her political action committee.
The Washington Post and The New York Times on Thursday both issued public appeals, asking for volunteers among their readers to help scour the thousands of pages of emails for newsworthy items.
MSNBC, the nonprofit news organization ProPublica and left-leaning Mother Jones magazine are collaborating to make the documents accessible in an online database.
But it remains unclear what, if any, insight the emails will provide.
