Gingrich goes off, then goes to Fred?
Posted on July 27th, 2007 at 11:29 am by David Kaiser, EditorIn two stories published just a couple of days apart, Newt Gingrich first lambasted the current GOP candidates, calling them “a pathetic bunch of pygmies,” and hinted that he may himself run for the Oval Office.
And then, two days later comes a piece from Jonathan Martin on Politico reporting that some Gingrich advisers are seeking a meeting with the Thompson team. Here’s Newt on Fred:
“I’ve always said it was unlikely I would run,” Gingrich said in an interview last Friday with The Associated Press. And, he added, if Thompson “runs and does well, then I think that makes it easier for me not to run.”
There is even a report in the story that Gingrich and his wife had dinner with at Thompson’s home in Virginia.
A Thompson/Gingrich alliance is a potentially very strong one, and could be a serious threat to GOP candidates positioning themselves on the right. That being said, Fred has still not announced, and Romney, Giuliani and the rest of those already in the race are raising the cash and building their infrastructure as quickly as they can.
Gingrich people looking to work for Fred, a shy wink and smile from across the playground, play dates over dinner.
When do you think Fred asks Newt to the prom?
13 Comments
Leave a comment
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Thompson / Gingrich ticket?
Sign me up.
Further (not-so-deep) thoughts…
Fred is:
a) a somewhat unconventional potential candidate (actor, out of politics for several years, plain-spoken, etc.);
b) running (if that’s the correct term for an undeclared candidate) an unconventional campaign (delaying his official entrance…);
Newt is:
a) a brilliant political strategist (”Contract With America”, Republican revolution, etc.);
b) ambitious, but realistic about his chances in a general election;
Given these facts, would it be too far-fetched to imagine a scenario where Fred further defies political precedents by announcing not only his candidacy, but also his choice of running mate (Gingrich)and that they campaign together in the Republican primaries?
Has this ever been done before?
If not, do ya’ll think that it would be a winning strategy?
I find it a fascinating possibility.
Newt does nothing to help Fred.
Both appeal to the extreme right and both are unelectable.
Just for the record, I’m from what many might call the “extreme” right, and Fred Thompson doesn’t really appeal to me that much. He’s a moderate in conservative clothing.
Gary, I’ve said the same thing generally in the past, but not with respect to Fred. Someone ought to announce their VP now, a worker bee type without all the ambition to become pres one day. (like Cheney, but without the 100% negatives)
I don’t believe it’s been done, but it would be daring. I don’t see a front runner doing it though. Maybe McCain? He could announce some crazy and bold choice. Ron Paul?
I say why not. It’s already the most unprecedented election in history. Let’s go for broke!
Jason,
Ron Paul came pretty close in South Carolina, where, while talking about Governor Mark Sanford, he said: “If you found two people voting together, it was Mark and myself. He would make an exceptionally good vice president.”
Given how little he tends to pander to his audience, I’d say that’s a fairly strong statement. Its certainly not a promise, but I think its the closest this election cycle has seen.
Re: this post’s topic
Personally, I really hope that we don’t see a Fred/Newt ticket. I believe they’d be able to get enough supporters out to win the primary handily, but their appeal is hardly universal within the party, and is basically guaranteed to not bring out Independents or center leaning Democrats.
If it happens, and, as seems so likely, they win the primary, I don’t believe it will matter who the Democrats field. I expect the Dems to win in any case, even with Congress’ dismal approval ratings, but I’m hoping for at least the semblance of a race!
I honestly do not think this would be a President/Vice President pairing, although the suggestion that they do just that early in the campaign is a very facinating discussion piece.
I think more along the lines that Newt realizes that he is unlikely to be a candidate that could win a national election. He is too polarizing, plus as a harsh critic of the Cliton/Lewinsky affair, he would face broadsides for finally admitting his own infidelity earlier this year.
I think that Gingrich wants to play kingmaker for Thompson, be the key power broker to help Fred win the nomination just because he can. Of course, if Thompson were to win the White House, there would be a tasty position in said Fred (yes, I went there) Administration just waiting for him.
For those that read history, this would be more like the relationship between President William McKinley and Senator Mark Hanna, where Hanna, a senate powerhouse, was the behind-the-scenes player in McKinley’s election in 1896.
Personally I think Newt’s power is overstated. I don’t think he has the kind of pull to be a “kingmaker”. His endorsement won’t be enough to help Fred or anyone else win the nomination. He’s averaging just over 5% in the polls that still include him. And most of that is probably based on name ID. There’s no other explanation for why Newt would poll better than Ron Paul, someone with the same credentials and none of the baggage.
I actually find Newt’s hanging on a bit pathetic. It’s as if he waits until his name stops popping up in the news and then he reminds everyone he might run again.
Jason, I agree Newt is definately “hanging on”, but I also think he still has some pull with certain conservative populations, which is why a Gingrich/Thompson partnership could potentially be formidible.
And the bit about him hanging around waiting for his name popping in the news… would that make him the GOP Al Gore?
Yes it would! Nice catch. Maybe the two of them ought to shoot for the Unity 08 ticket.
Gingrich/Gore vs. Bloomberg/Hagel at the Unity 08 convention could make for some fun TV! Should it be a steel cage match or a ladder match?
Fred may have moderate views, but a traditional southern Republican will remind the public of Bush.
Anyone who reminds the public of Bush is DOA in the general.
Steel cage