Is the Gingrich surge over?
After what seemed like a decisive rise to the top of the GOP heap, Newt Gingrich is losing steam. Was he just the latest flavor of the month after all?
"It seems like just yesterday that Newt Gingrich rocketed into the position of 2012 Republican presidential front-runner, a.k.a. the least secure job in the world," says Molly Ball in The Atlantic. But like all the GOP pack-leaders not named Mitt Romney before him, Gingrich's lead seems to be crumbling. Gallup's daily tracking poll still has Gingrich ahead nationally, but what was a 15-point lead over Romney a week ago has dropped to 5 points. And a new Rasmussen poll has Newt losing to Romney in Iowa, 20 percent to 23 percent. Even the political gamblers at InTrade are giving up on him. As Ball asks, is the air "already coming out of the Gingrich balloon"?
Yes, Newtmentum is history: It's pretty clear from the new polls that Gingrich is sinking, and fast, says Allahpundit in Hot Air. And it's pretty clear why: "Voters simply didn't know the bad stuff about Newt yet," and now "they're getting a crash course," thanks to a flurry of attack ads and "withering criticism from prominent conservatives." Worse for Gingrich, he lacks the cash and organizational power to fight back, so "he might not be able to reverse the trend."
"Confirmed: Gingrich's numbers starting to slip"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The news isn't all bad for Newt: It sure looks like "Gingrich's momentum has stopped — and has probably reversed itself," says Nate Silver in The New York Times. But "there are still a few silver linings for his campaign." This could be a temporary dip, like the one then-candidate Barack Obama faced at the same point in 2007 before going on to easily win Iowa. And the numbers for Romney, Gingrich's only real rival, are pretty weak, too. Newt might even benefit from the "diminished expectations" this poll slump brings.
"Gingrich momentum slows, polls suggest"
Gingrich has already proved his point: All of this poll-gazing assumes Gingrich even wants the nomination, says Noam Scheiber in The New Republic. But he's barely campaigning in Iowa, and he "obviously doesn't want to do the things you generally have to do... to become president." I don't think Newt wants the job, or the hard work. My bet is he just wanted to prove to detractors "that he could be president if he really wanted to," and he's campaigning like a man who's "already done what he set out to do."
"Does Newt really want to be president?"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trial
The Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
By Abby Wilson Published
-
How to earn extra cash for Christmas
The Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published