Speaker Gingrich has a big problem. Even with a spirited effort in Thursday’s (12/16/2011; FOX) Republican presidential debate where he rallied addressing the judicial system and energy independence, Mr. Gingrich couldn’t divert disaster in the form of Freddie Mac. Hammered repeatedly by a desperate sounding Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul, the speaker had little passion in his answers to accusations he lobbied for the beleaguered government sponsored agency.
If there is ever a time for the brash unfiltered Newt, it’s now.
In response to both Bachmann and Paul’s attacks, Speaker Gingrich remained somewhat reserved and stoic, though his body language told otherwise. As Bachmann’s allegations of ‘hand-outs’ and ‘cashed paychecks’ rang through the Sioux City Convention Center in Iowa, the speaker attempted to quiet them softly proclaiming he was a ‘private citizen’ in his relationship with the mortgage giant. He went on to say he never lobbied for them.
Sorry, speaker Gingrich – that simply wasn’t good enough as evidenced by the sound of crickets permeating through the auditorium as you rebuked the claims.
The problem doesn’t stem from the ideology of whether he may be right or wrong on his relationship with Freddie Mac. On the contrary, it’s the nonchalant demeanor in which he answered the venom spewed by his fellow Republican candidates that’s inflicted the damage.
If there was ever a time for the brash, fire and brimstone Newt, that was the appropriate moment.
Despite other attacks, Speaker Gingrich has weathered the storm. Abortion, infidelity, immigration – Newt Gingrich has skillfully leveled his competition thanks to keen rationale and engrossing explanations on his positions. Often setting the tone of these debates, he has seen his stock in the Republican Party soar.
According to latest Gallop Polls, Gingrich currently holds a 4 percent advantage over his closest competition, Mitt Romney, with 28% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents favoring him as the party’s presidential candidate. At one point in early December Gingrich lead Romney by 15 percentage points.
While a 11 percent decline in support versus his closest rival is anything but trivial, the news for Speaker Gingrich isn’t all bad. Gallop is also reporting that very few Republican voters who are now not as ardently supporting Gingrich aren’t any more thrilled with Governor Romney as he has realized only a slight lift in support.
In conclusion, all is not lost for Speaker Gingrich. It is obvious ultra-conservatives in the party favor Gingrich in a race with Romney. However, in the end, the party nomination will truly belong to the Republican that has the best opportunity to beat Barack Obama come November.
This is why Newt Gingrich cannot afford to stumble on the issue of Freddie Mac. If fellow Republicans feel he is fair game on the subject and he appears weak, his candidacy stumbles. Speaker Gingrich needs to reassess his strategy and find conviction within his argument in dealing with the subject of Freddie Mac. Without that, despite all the positives and fortitude he has brought to this campaign, he risks losing it all.
That would be the greatest tragedy of all. In a time where the United Stated craves the leadership Speaker Gingrich potentially provides, to lose momentum because of this issue would be tragic – for Speaker Gingrich and the United States.