Newt Gingrich Predicts 80-20 Democrats Win in 08

[Mark]

http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/070913nj1.htm

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicts that the Democrats have an 80-20 chance of winning the White House in 2008.

Do you feel that Newt is accurate in his predictions?

[Curly]

To early. As long as they support Moveon....org and groups like it (insert hollywood here), their chances dwindle. I think "big if" they do win, it would be more like 60-40.

[Slacker]

As long as a Rep. doesn't get in there. And Obama.

[Curly]

Yeah, Hilliary is a great choice. She'll get us the respect we need.

I was kidding. Can't stand her.

[rstonecousley]

Eh....it's too soon to make predictions like that but I still give the Democrats about a 50/50 shot. Democrats of late have been really good at blowing it (insert Larry Craig comment here) in the last quarter. I'm still waiting for them to drop the ball.

And Newt Gingrich hasn't been relevant since about my junior year in college.....

[M.Opaliski]

I can't say that I agree with the 80/20 prediction, especially from someone who is/was considering entering the race. I view Newt as a headlines guy anymore ...

At this point I give the Democrats a slight edge because a lot of folks are on egde about this or that. It's a given that the base is behind "whoever" but swinging the rest of the country is a tough sell after the primary.

Added to that you have the Dem Congress that has done nothing (which is great!) with their time thus far and they're running out of time to make the impression that they're different, better or more able to lead the nation. An 18% approval rating isn't going to help elect a President.

Finally, it all boils down to who the nominee is. If it happens to be Hillary, I put the Dems behind at 70/30 ...

[M.Opaliski]

And, after reading through the interview with the Newt ... it's apparent why he has to suggest that R's are in trouble. Who needs a savior if everything is fine ? He's basically laying out a scenario that suggests he needs to run, for the sake of the Party, and the Country.

They hint at 2012, he answers for 2008 ...

~~

Q: Let's talk about the Republicans who are in the race, starting with former Governor Mitt Romney. Is he the kind of visionary you think the country needs?

Gingrich: Look, I think there are three or four possible Republican nominees -- [Rudy] Giuliani, Romney, [Fred] Thompson, [Mike] Huckabee, and, based on his recent re-energizing, [John] McCain. All of them are smart people. None of them have yet broken out and begun to define a fundamentally different future.

Q: You could imagine circumstances in which you might run for president in 2012?

Gingrich: I'd be the same age in '12 [that] Reagan was when he was elected in 1980. The most tempting thought about running next year is the idea of debating Senator Clinton. That would be fun.


Q: Do you want to run?

Gingrich: Not necessarily. I want to serve my country. I don't want to run as an act of habit. I have no great interest in going out to campaign. I have every interest in finding a generation of solutions. So if you said to me, would I be willing to serve my country, the answer is yes. But it won't bother me to spend all of next year running workshops and developing a new generation of ideas, and trying to be available for every American, not just Republicans.

[Slacker]

If I had to vote Rep which I wouldn't because I don't like Rep I would vote Rudy Giuliani. Rep don't look out for the people.

[M.Opaliski]

This should help to make sure you get them all ...

[M.Opaliski]

A little update ...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will not run for president in 2008 after determining he could not legally explore a bid and remain as head of his tax-exempt political organization, a spokesman said Saturday.

"Newt is not running," spokesman Rick Tyler said. "It is legally impermissible for him to continue on as chairman of American Solutions (for Winning the Future) and to explore a campaign for president." Gingrich decided "to continue on raising the challenges America faces and finding solutions to those challenges" as the group's chairman, Tyler said, "rather than pursuing the presidency."

Over the past few months, Gingrich had stoked speculation he might enter the crowded GOP field, despite the seemingly insurmountable challenge of entering the race several months after the other Republicans have been running.

More ...

~~

The way I read it his decision is a financial one, too much of a pay cut to be POTUS. Not that there is anything wrong with that ...

As an aside update, Congress now has an approval rating of 11%, that's hot !