Poll Shocker: Gingrich Now 30 Points Ahead of Mitt Romney in Florida
David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star
There was an old song “to know know know him is to love love love him” but that Mitt Romney seems to be inspiring among many GOP conservatives is “to know know how him is to hate hate hate him” as the scramble is on to find someone who can head the ticket who is not Mitt Romney. An exaggeration? What’s unfolding now with the polls showing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich TSA-qualifying baggage heap and all zooming to the top of some polls is just that. Consider this virtually stunning news about what is now occurring in Florida:
Results from Democratic firm Public Policy Polling poll of Florida GOP primary voters: Newt Gingrich (47 percent), Mitt Romney (17 percent), Herman Cain (15 percent), Ron Paul (5 percent), Michele Bachmann (4 percent), Jon Huntsman (3 percent), Rick Perry (2 percent), and Rick Santorum (1 percent).
Further, Romney’s favorability in Florida is decreasing. When PPP polled in September, Romney had a 65 percent favorable rating and a 22 percent unfavorable rating. Now only 51 percent have a favorable view of him, while the number of those who have an unfavorable view is up to 36 percent. To me, this is curious: hate, love, or feel in-between about Romney, he’s widely considered the candidate whose background and positions are best known to GOP candidates. His campaign hasn’t had any dramatic changes in the past two months; he hasn’t made any quotes that have gone viral; and there’s been no scandals. Why then such a dramatic change in how he’s viewed?
And Romney is showing signs of becoming flustered.
Many pundits have pointed to this interview which apparenty showed that Romney is losing his cool — an interview with Fox News. How bad was it? So bad that the DNC put out an ad about it:>
Here’s the interview via Fox News’ website:
I have said this before and it’s worth repeating again: Newt Gingrich is a seasoned national politician. He reminds me of the “quote machines” I talked to when I was a reporter, political pros who would always return a reporter’s phone call, and always give a quote. Gingrich will appear on all networks. Romney is increasingly falling into the trap of the Sarah Palin model. She restricted herself to largely Fox News. Romney is trying to avoid free wheeling network interviews altogether. This indicates he will be VERY vulnerable in his battle for the nomination — and that he has a major Achilles heel heading into the general election.
The well prepared Romney of a debate is one thing. The Romney on a scripted campaign ad is one thing. But to defend his front-runner status — a status that really is no longer deserved since Gingrich is starting to lead in some polls now — and to take a national campaign to a well-funded Barack Obama who despite having an approval rating below Jimmy Carter’s still has the bully pulpit, he will have to be ready to talk with all and sundry in UNSCRIPTED interviews and appearances where you can’t just regurgitate talking points or attack lines.
Being brittle or acting like he’s disgusted people dare ask him tough questions won’t help.
If he doesn’t get his political act together soon, the Florida poll will not be a surprise but the norm since many Republicans are looking for someone they can support so they don’t have to support him.
UPDATE: In the Great Minds Think Alike Department, the Christian Science Monitor now asks whether Romney’s nomination is still “inevitable.” Here’s part of the piece:
Is a Mitt Romney nomination really inevitable?
The former Massachusetts governor is trying to create that impression. And certainly, he’s the only GOP candidate with money, organization, and consistent performances in polls and debates.
On the other hand, those same polls have highlighted Romney’s inability to go above about 25 percent among likely primary voters – and much of the other 75 percent seems to gravitate toward anybody but him, convinced that he’s not a true conservative.
How much do you know about Mitt Romney? A quiz.
“He’s a fragile frontrunner,” says Dennis Goldford, a political scientist at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. “If the anti-Romney side can’t unite around someone, then yeah, he’s got a very good chance. But if the anti-Romney side can unite around someone, it will be tougher.”
With Herman Cain now “reassessing” his campaign, that possibility looks stronger.
Though Mr. Cain speaking in Ohio Wednesday vowed to stay in the race, his candidacy is limping. And Newt Gingrich – already the frontrunner in most polls – could benefit more than Romney from a Cain demise.
Go to the link and read it all.
11 Responses to “Poll Shocker: Gingrich Now 30 Points Ahead of Mitt Romney in Florida”
Wow I might have to eat my hat on this one. It appears the GOP is nutty enough to run Gingrich. In that case, I’m holding onto my betting ticket for Sarah Palin in case she has a last minute change of mind. If they’ll retread Newt they’ll definitely give Palin another go lol.
This is good news for John McCain!
How many candidates will the GOP go through before they hit rock bottom?
Romney is still the only one in this race.
Paul is interesting and unelectable.
Michille, Herman, Newt have been an embarrassment on US world image.
And lets face it, this is all about image.
IN the 21st century, the president is like a sports announcer: money interests already set the agenda regardless if the flag is red or blue team. Crazy talk eh? Red and blue teams both enabled banks to print their own money financed by citizens. This may look like a great demonstration of political consternation but the reality is neither red or blue teams have control over the corporate monster. Newt or Obama or Romney, the haves have it. More business subsidies and “economic easing” when the “advisors” make the call.
Perhaps we should pay more attention to who is elected to the FCC and the Fed than the presidency. These positions are much closer to decision making power, and in some countries, they dont even pretend anymore : Greece, Italy, to name a few.
if they elect newt, they elect 200 some catholic bishops from the US. Uncle Newtie is a Roman Catholic convert as of a couple years+ back. Calista, dont know. Newt will likely continue working to overturn Roe and work hard to help immigrants. If he follows the Catholic line, he will oppose stem cell research (which someone in media up close ought ask him about)… he will preach abstinence, and he will definitely try to reinstitute orphanages, work houses, and will turn away from HIV prevention, cure, care. He would likely reinstitute “faithbased” funding. He would give us his faux version of history of Mexico and would give a load of money to private schools, Catholic ones esp as ‘the cure’ for poverty and what have you. I’m a Catholic. I believe what I believe, but I dont believe all others should live by my values. Newt does. Always has. His “contract with america” (without ever having asked us for input) is a good, sad example of a guy who gets manic with his ideas and can never bring them down to earth. Except when they mean money for him.
Also a Catholic here. I listen to Gingrich and find that he knows what is going on. Then I find what Dr. E said, “is a good, sad example of a guy who gets manic with his ideas and can never bring them down to earth.” He knows that he needs to go to the center with policies, but he impeaches President Clinton when he did not even have all the votes in his own party (in the Senate) to actually succeed in ousting the guy. Why? How did that help the country? Why does this economist propose economic plans that would destroy the country?
Newt will get burnt too. He has been out of congress for so long that no one really remembers much about the guy. Just like the rest, the bright light of the front spot will be his downfall.
HD killed the tv star.
A Newt vs Obama race would be a tremendous gift to the democrats… imho.
Agreed, JSpencer. He’s a neo-con at a time when this nation is getting a bit war-weary, and known for his own flip-flops. His baggage is a lot older than most of the other candidates, but it could still be used.
He’s not an economist, he’s a historian. From Wikipedia:
He received a B.A. in history from Emory University in Atlanta in 1965, a M.A. in 1968, and a PhD in modern European history from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1971. His dissertation was on “Belgian Education Policy in the Congo: 1945–1960″. … In 1970, Gingrich joined the history department at West Georgia College as an assistant professor. In 1974 he moved to the geography department and was instrumental in establishing an inter-disciplinary environmental studies program. Denied tenure, he left the college in 1978.
“He’s not an economist, he’s a historian.”
One of the very few times Gingrich has admitted to being a “mere historian” is when he painted his lobbying role — raking in $1.5 million — with Freddie Mac as just being a “historian.” At all other times he paints himself as an economist, financial/political whiz, etc., par excellence
The big O should be smiling right about now. He knows that Newt can be brought down a lot more easily than the smooth but card- board cut out Romney..
BTW what kind of historian declares on Fox News that we are in the midst of WWIII during the Iraq War?? No wonder he was denied tenure.