The rise of Newt Gingrich to front runner status among the GOP hopefuls brings intensified scrutiny and predictions for his demise. As the latest “Non-Romney” candidate to lead the polls, Newt follows the rise and fall of three previous front runners: Bachmann, Perry and Cain.

However, there are reasons to believe that Newt may be able to sustain his leadership and wrest the nomination from Romney. The core challenge for all of the GOP rivals (including Romney) has been authenticity. Many voters are simply hesitant to embrace Romney because they sense a commitment to conservative values and solutions that is solely opportunistic.

This concern has also undermined the campaigns of Romney’s rivals, especially when coupled with shortfalls in experience or credible solutions. Michelle Bachmann is an exciting candidate that speaks passionately about the conservative cause. But after a brief stint as front-runner in Iowa, her debate performances have highlighted her lack of experience. Rick Perry faltered similarly after revealing several positions as the Governor of Texas that undermined his conservative credentials. Herman Cain lost steam when his responses on foreign policy appeared unstudied. None of these candidates has demonstrated depth on more than one or two issues even during the height of their popularity, and many republican voters have abandoned their allegedly conservative campaigns as not credible.

Newt suffers from none of these challenges. Newt clearly has depth of ideas and experience as demonstrated in his 21st Century Contract with America. He also has the vision and gravitas you would expect from a former Speaker of the House, as demonstrated in his debate performances. Newt’s authenticity as a leading conservative originates with a long list of achievements. Unlike his rivals, he is not new to the conservative cause and his brand as a conservative policy advocate is well established.

The complaint about Newt is that he has “personal baggage” and that he is likely to “self destruct” at any moment. Everyone admits that he is brilliant, but they worry that lapses in personal discipline will undermine his electability.

However, browbeating Newt over his personal failures and three divorces may not undermine the basic belief that he has the right vision for America and the leadership skills and experience to take us there. After all, it was not personal attacks that lead to the demise of Herman Cain. Competence was the issue, and no one questions the competence of Newt Gingrich.

Attacking Newt on alleged conflicts of interest and policy inconsistencies are not likely to work either. These issues are complicated and “old news”. Already, Newt has “set the record straight” and answered media attacks on such issues as Ethanol, Ethics charges, Global Warming, Freddie Mac, Healthcare, TARP and a host of other issues. [ www.newt.org/answers ]. Unlike his rivals and previous front-runners, Newt has gotten out in front of these issues with explanations likely to satisfy the republican base.


The notion that Newt Gingrich is not sufficiently disciplined to sustain a winning campaign is simply not credible either. Newt Gingrich was arguably the most effective Speaker of the House in the nation’s history. He also built several successful small businesses as a private citizen, and has orchestrated a successful campaign for President based upon effective ideas rather than personal popularity. Bill Clinton was not particularly disciplined in his personal behavior either, but he orchestrated one of the more successful presidencies in the history of the republic.

Like all the candidates (including Barak Obama), Newt Gingrich is a man with flaws. But America is a forgiving nation that also senses an urgent need for positive and dramatic action on every front: Jobs, Healthcare, Energy, Terrorism, National Security, Debt, the Economy and Foreign Policy. Newt has ideas, and the experience to implement them. Attacking the candidate with personal innuendos is easy. However, unless critics can also undermine his vision for America, the attacks may well fall on deaf ears.