Will Newt Gingrich Do the GOP More Harm Than Good by Staying in the 2012 Race? >
Newt Must Trade Hope for a Miracle for a Shot to Beat Obama
Unless he truly has a plan to turn the tide vs. Romney, Gingrich should bow to help defeat Obama
February 1, 2012
About Ron Bonjean:
Ron Bonjean is a partner with Singer Bonjean Strategies and the owner of the Bonjean Company, both full service public affairs firms. He was chief of staff for the Senate Republican Conference under Sen. Jon Kyl and the top spokesman for then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, then-U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans, and other House members.
As the primary contest goes on to Nevada, one has to wonder what former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's campaign must do to stop former Gov. Mitt Romney's momentum after his overwhelming victory in Florida. If the Gingrich campaign has an effective fundraising plan, solid organizational structures in Super Tuesday states, and reconfigures his message to appeal to voters, then he should remain in the race. However, if he simply chooses to remain in the race because he wants to needle the Romney campaign until the convention, most GOP voters will not have the stomach for it. Romney allies took Gingrich down in Iowa and Gingrich returned the favor in South Carolina. Both waged an extremely negative campaign in Florida and Romney won.
[See a collection of political cartoons on Newt Gingrich.]
Romney will likely win Nevada and Rep. Ron Paul could come in second place because both have organizations set up months ago there. Gingrich opened his campaign office in Nevada today. What does this tell us? It means that Gingrich does not have the resources to think very far ahead. After the loss in South Carolina, Romney's machine turned like a dime and fired up the advertising, structure, and concentration it takes to win. He will likely do the same in upcoming primary states. Back in the summer, Republican operatives were buzzing that the Romney campaign was preparing for a long, divisive primary. We can see the fruits of their labor paying dividends. Gingrich must not simply stay in the race just to be the "alternative" and to criticize Romney. After 19 debates, we all know the weaknesses of every candidate. Gingrich must stay in the race if he has a strategy to pull off a miracle. If he doesn't, the former speaker should bow out gracefully and concentrate his energy on defeating Barack Obama.
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- Other Arguments
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#1368
No — The struggle between Romney and Gingrich is for the soul of the Republican Party--a battle the GOP must have
MATTHEW DICKINSON, Professor at Middlebury College
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#22513
No — Gingrich is the only one in the race who has a chance of uniting conservatives behind the GOP
JUDSON PHILLIPS, Founder of Tea Party Nation
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#31610
No — Democrats united behind Obama after long, messy primary—Republicans can do the same
DOUG HEYE, Former Communications Director for the Republican National Committee
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#42217
No — Newt Gingrich should stay in the race, as he is making the field stronger overall
FORD O'CONNELL, Republican Strategist, Conservative Activist, and Political Analyst
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#51211
Yes — Newt Gingrich is already causing problems for the GOP
LARA BROWN, Professor at Villanova University
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#7912
Yes — The Newt Gingrich-Mitt Romney mudfest is turning independents away from the GOP
KRYSTAL BALL, MSNBC Contributor and Former Democratic Nominee for Congress in the First District of Virginia
Reader Comments Read all comments (2)
Clifton Willis of TX 3:20PM February 01, 2012
Clifton Willis of TX 3:20PM February 01, 2012