Can Newt Gingrich Win the GOP 2012 Nomination?

The former House speaker is planning to run for the top White House job

By U.S. News Staff

May 11, 2011 RSS Feed Print

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Twitter and Facebook users will reportedly get a big (unsurprising) announcement today when Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich declares his candidacy for the GOP’s 2012 presidential nomination. But can he win?

Gail Collins from the New York Times is not so sure. “Isn’t an undisciplined bomb-thrower the last thing you want in a president?” she writes. “Even the adultery-multiple-marriages saga is about a guy who gets carried away.” [Check out a roundup of political cartoons on the GOP 2012 candidates.]

Social conservatives may not be big fans of Gingrich’s personal life, and he has what pundits call a “legendary” ego that tends to get him in trouble.

But The New Republic’s Walter Shapiro, who calls Gingrich “a plausible possibility in an uninspiring GOP field,” thinks it would be dangerous to underestimate a man with his policy background and Republican bona fides. “Remember that the last time the political railbirds sold Gingrich short,” Shapiro writes, “he gave the Republicans their first House majority in 40 years.” [See a photo history of Newt Gingrich's career.]

And U.S. News’s Washington Whispers blog found 11 reasons Gingrich can win the nomination, as long as he can “finally become a disciplined speaker who focuses on just a few key points, and make his pretty blond wife Callista a main campaign feature.”

What do you think? Can Newt Gingrich win the GOP 2012 nomination? Take the poll and post your thoughts below.

--Mallie Jane Kim

Previously: Are video game re-creations of bin Laden’s compound in poor taste?

Tags:: Republican Party,; 2012 presidential election,; Newt Gingrich

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watching his youtube videos, watching his debate skills, he is the man for the job. New broom sweeps clean, old broom knows where the dirt is. This statement rings for Newt. He has been there and has vast knowledge of the country. He knows the tricks of many and will not be hood winked by hot shots.
With Obama we have had the kid running the house hold. Its time for a mature parent to step forward and fix the problems.
I ma willing to look past personal problems to save the country.

MD voter of MD 12:12PM September 23, 2011

...and that's too bad. Gingrich is brilliant and logical - the "smartest guy in the room" - any room. I think he could pull us back from the Green Socialist abyss - but it will never be.
Regarding his personal baggage... well it is nothing compared to Billy the Willy Clinton's - My God! The progressives and fems loved him. Heck, they're still paying him millions in speaking fees to B.S. 'em. Talk about hypocrisy.
Gingrich is the "Great Conservative Hope" - but alas, his name will Newter him at the polls. Ditto for Huckleberry.... I mean Huckabee.
Tragically, we have the worst possible man in the White House, during one of the most dangerous periods in our history, and Conservatives have no one who can boot him back to Chicago backroom politics and ACORN. A catastrophe is poised to culminate.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 11:17AM May 12, 2011

Newt forced balance budget on Clinton. We certainly need help in our economics. barry is still pushing for $$$ trillions in debt in 2011 budget. He ignored recommendation from his panel for economic reductions. Guy thinks alligators should be in moot on Mexican boarder. Or was it his joke we want that ? How about piranha ? Oh by the way, Mexico is building a fence on their souther boarder. Sure they will finish theirs. We're not.

Bill Hedges of MO 10:17PM May 11, 2011

Can Newt Gingrich Win the GOP 2012 Nomination?

The former House speaker is planning to run for the top White House job