GOP Needs Newt Gingrich to Keep Fighting

About Matthew Dickinson:

Dr. Matt Dickinson is a professor at Middlebury College. He is the author of Bitter Harvest: FDR, Presidential Power, and the Growth of the Presidential Branch and co-editor of Guardian of the Presidency: The Legacy of Richard E. Neustadt. His current book project, titled The President and the White House Staff: People, Positions and Processes, 1945-2008, examines the growth of presidential staff in the post-World War II era.

Even assuming former House Speaker Newt Gingrich cannot win the nomination outright, he strengthens the GOP by continuing the fight. He does so for at least three reasons. First, we have already seen in Florida how former Governor Romney upped his game in response to Gingrich's victory in South Carolina. Romney sharpened his talking points to explain his wealth in the context of defending capitalism; he addressed key weaknesses in his resume—particularly his tax records and time at Bain Capital; and he improved his debating skills. None of this would have happened without Gingrich's presence in the race. All of it will benefit Romney should he become the Republican nominee. By continuing the fight, Gingrich makes Romney a better candidate.

[See a collection of political cartoons on Mitt Romney.]

Second, Gingrich's candidacy is driven by more than his oversized ego. Voting patterns in South Carolina and Florida, and Gingrich's endorsements from Gov. Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and former Gov. Sarah Palin,show that Newt is now the voice of the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. As we saw in 2010, a fully mobilized Tea Party can have a huge impact on national elections. The struggle between Romney and Gingrich is really a struggle for the soul of the Republican Party. Republican establishment sentiment notwithstanding, it does the GOP little good to prematurely shut down that debate.

[See a slide show of Newt Gingrich's career.]

And that is the third reason why Gingrich's candidacy helps the GOP: He might be the stronger nominee. Newt's winning the GOP nomination is a long shot, to be sure. But it is clear that Romney still has not clinched the deal with the conservative Tea Party faction that forms a third of the GOP; Florida exit polls indicate Gingrich beat Romney among self-described evangelicals, strong Tea Party supporters, and very conservative voters. Until Romney proves he can win their support, Gingrich's candidacy should continue.

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