Commentary| According to the most recent Gallup poll, Newt Gingrich is the frontrunner in the Republican nomination for president. (1) And it is not only voters who are starting to take seriously the thought of Gingrich as the Republican nominee for president. The possibility of Gingrich as nominee has reached the level where Politico reports that some of Newt's biggest critics within the Republican party are for the time being quiet for fear of possibly damaging their potential nominee.(2) All of which should make Democrats giddy. There may be more flawed presidential candidates in the modern era than the thrice-married, Freddie Mac historian with a six figure Tiffany account who brought us the government shutdown. But one is hard pressed to think of anyone in recent memory who combines Gingrich's personal and political foibles.
Yet, leave it to the Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Although everyone from liberal icon Barney Frank to conservative provocateur Ann Coulter are claiming a Newt candidacy would be a boon for the Democrats, yet according to an article in the Washington Post (3), some Democrats are beginning to fret at the possibility of facing off against Gingrich in the general election, fearing that unlike Romney Gingrich would both excite the Republican base and appeal to Hispanics. To these Democrats I say: Relax. Let’s look at each of these claims.
It is certainly clear, as evidenced by his inability to climb in the polls despite unarguably steady performances in the debates, that Mitt Romney has some real difficulty in exciting the base of his party. However, the Republican base is already pumped up at the prospect of beating the man many perceive as the socialist-in-chief. In fact, it is the Democrats who have much more of a reason to worry about their base, since many on the liberal leaning side of the party have been disappointed in everything from Obama’s failure to close Guantanamo to his stepping up the war in Afghanistan to what is perceived as multiple cave-ins to the Republicans on the budget. There is nothing short of resurrecting Ronald Reagan more likely to drive this wing of the Democrat party to the polls than a Gingrich candidacy. In short, Democrats should not worry about Newt’s base appeal.
Neither should Democrats be concerned of Newt’s outreach to Hispanics. In the last debate(4) he suggested that some illegal immigrants who have been in this country for a long time should be given some legal status. But the only reason his proposal sounds remotely reasonable is the red meat the rest of the GOP field is throwing out on this issue. Indeed, when it comes time for the campaign, Newt will be stuck with the Republican platform on immigration and hemmed in on this issue in the same way as John McCain, who was even more outside the Republican mainstream on immigration.
By many accounts, it was Newt who saved the Clinton presidency. History just might repeat itself.
Published at: http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-nothing-fear-gingrich-candidacy-174100093.html
http://www.gallup.com/poll/151355/Gingrich-Romney-Among-GOP-Voters-Nationwide.aspx
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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/69750.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/some-democratic-strategists-worry-about-gingrichs-potential-appeal/2011/12/03/gIQAomJsTO_story.html
http://www.cfr.org/us-election-2012/republican-debate-transcript-washington-dc-november-2011/p26579?cid=rss-u.s.strategyandpolitics-republican_debate_transcript,_-112211
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