COMMENTARY | Newt Gingrich is at it again. In a Republican primary race that’s had more ups and downs than a merry go round, Newt has surged again in poll numbers after some very controversial statements made in the most recent debate in South Carolina. Some polls show him behind Mitt Romney by as little as 5 percent.
Referring to President Barack Obama as “The food stamp president” and defending his position on a lack of a work ethic in the lower class has gained him a standing ovation in the debate and growing support against Mitt Romney in the South Carolina primary. While these statements have caused bigger numbers in the polls, they have also brought on a lot of criticism from many as being insensitive and racially charged. In an interview on MSNBC’s Hardball, Rep. Donna Evens of Maryland stated that Newt’s ideas represent “a step backwards” in American politics.
Many are comparing Newt’s statements to Ronald Regan in the 1980’s and his “welfare queen” statements. He has repeatedly insinuated that the majority of people receiving food stamps are black, a statistic that is patently untrue.
A recent poll by the Washington post places Newt Gingrich gaining on Mitt Romney. The question is, will this support translate into bigger numbers when moving on to other primaries around the country, or is he just playing to a minority in his own party? Statements like this might play well in South Carolina where only 2 percent of primary voters are black, but may well hurt him as he moves on to other states with different demographics, and will definitely hurt him with independent voters if he does manage to lock down the nomination.
Whether this political race baiting will have a lasting negative impact on his campaign is yet to be seen, but for the time being Newt is flogging this horse for all that it’s worth, releasing outtakes from the debate in a new web video, and doubling down on his outrageous idea to have poor students work as janitors in their schools for less than minimum wage.