General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThoughts on Gingrich Staying In the Race...
I've been thinking long and hard since last night to try and understand why Newt Gingrich, who suffered humiliating defeats last night in his neighboring states of Alabama and Mississippi, insists on staying in the race for the Republican nomination. He's a fairly intelligent (albeit scary) individual, and surely he should know that he has no chance of reaching 1,144 delegates needed to win the GOP nomination. So, as many Republican Party loyalists are asking right now, what the heck is Newt trying to do?
My suspicion is that Newt, while a loyal Republican, is also a dedicated hard-core conservative who does NOT want a Mass. moderate Mitt Romney (who was pro-choice, pro-health care reform, and anti-Reaganomics before he ran for president) to win his party's nomination. Also, Newt probably perceives Romney as an "elitist" (which he despises with passion) given that he was born into a legendary and rich American family. So, why doesn't he just drop out, endorse Santorum, and allow Santorum to go head-to-head with Romney, which would prevent the splitting of the conservative vote and could very well land Newt the vice-presidential slot assuming Santorum gets the nomination?
The reason is this: Newt Gingrich doesn't believe that Santorum can beat Romney head-to-head, at least not in the voting booth. After all, he blew big leads in both Michigan and Ohio, two critical swing states whose Republican populace are not 100% conservative. Plus, the party establishment is backing Romney because they know good and well that Santorum would turn off both women as well as independent voters, and their goal is to defeat Barack Obama this November, even if it means settling for a less conservative candidate.
As such, having a two-person race between Santorum and Romney would most likely result in Romney winning the GOP nomination on the first ballot (i.e.--he'd have enough delegates going into Tampa to be the nominee). Gingrich believes that staying in the race and holding onto his few hundred delegates will ultimately deny Romney the 1,144 delegates he'd need to win the nomination outright. This would create a brokered convention in which the party could then end up nominating a conservative candidate--not Gingrich himself, but someone who's more representative of today's Republican Party.
I could be totally wrong, but this is the only logical explanation I can think of as to explain Newt Gingrich's motive for staying in the GOP primary race. What do you guys think?
SharonAnn
(13,776 posts)RedSpartan
(1,693 posts)However, I think your analysis is sound. I'm inclined to agree with you.
SDjack
(1,448 posts)He is excited by the thought of exercising power over those who hate him. Without that, he is nothing.
RDANGELO
(3,433 posts)He believes he is some kind of historicle political figure because he lead the first Republican house in like 40 years and the contract with America. The truth is, he has so much baggage with the wives and the ethics problem that the notion of him winning a national election is absurd. His ego won't let him realise that.
If he gets out before the convention, it will be only after total humiliation. He will be bitter and blame his demise on anything but himself.
I think it started out as the money thing, but once he caught fire, his ego took over.
renate
(13,776 posts)Well, I suppose actually having real power, or being the front-runner. But it looks like he and he alone can decide who will become the Republican nominee before the convention. Pretty heady stuff.
The entire Republican establishment is waiting with bated breath to see what he will do. Probably all kinds of promises are being made by both the religious wing and the Rovian wing. I think it'd be kind of fun to have some of the most powerful people in American politics kissing my ass, and I don't have a pathologically enormous ego like Newt's. He's loving this.
I think his staying in the race has precisely zero to do with any sincerely held values and everything to do with being a kingmaker.