Today is a big day for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, indeed.Will it be a big, bad day?
First, today is the big South Carolina CNN debate — a true “make or break” debate since polls now show Gingrich coming on strong against front-runner former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (who is still 10 points ahead in one poll). New and old media punditry have been buzzing with the question: is it possible Gingrich can score an upset? Gingrich was widely viewed — putting the content of his comments aside –to have “won” the last Fox News debate from South Carolina in which Romney stumbled.
But then last night Matt Drudge had screaming headlines on his site about ABC News holding a “bombshell” interview with Gingrich’s ex-wife Marianne until after the primary. See our post and roundup HERE.
Now, according to reports, ABC is now likely to air the interview TONIGHT during Nightline — right after the debate.
This interview could well the the final chapter for Gingrich, even though his daughters have come to his defense, writing a letter to ABC and labelling his ex-wife “bitter.” (That’s the domestic equivalent of being a “disgruntled employee”)
What could Marianne say? Apparently it could be devastating if this Talking Points Memo that details some of the specifics she has said about Gingrich is any indication. It could truly sink him just when he is starting to rise again. And given what she may allege, it’s possible some Americans may feel relieved if in the end there is no chance he can get to the White House.
Photo via Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock.com
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.