Defending Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich, family man: I've not heard Gingrich himself or family members use those words exactly. But there seems to be a lot more talk of a warmer, fuzzier, happy Grandpa Gingrich these days. At the official opening of his campaign headquarters in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, he said his grandchildren critique his debates. His granddaughter told him to smile and his grandson to not talk to much. In his defense during the debate of questions of whether Americans should trust an adulterer, Gingrich talked about being a "68-year-old grandpa".

I talked with his daughter, Jackie Cushman. The campaign offered the conversation Saturday before the debate. Jackie is the child of Gingrich and his first wife, Jackie. His divorce from Jackie has become political lore but Cushman told me it's mostly folly. The story goes that Gingrich went to the hospital to see his wife, who was dying from cancer, and served her with divorce papers. Cushman said it's actually her mom who requested the divorce talk and her mom wasn't dying from cancer. She had a tumor but it turned out not to be cancerous. And most importantly, she's still alive today. Cushman didn't deny her dad's infidelity during his two broken marriages.

Cushman wants Iowans to judge her father based on everything he's done, not just his failings. Cushman told me, "I think you have to look at where he stands and what he has done over time. He is the only national candidate who on a national level has balanced the budget. He's cut spending nationally. He's cut taxes. He's reformed welfare."

Gingrich leads every Iowa poll, a stunning turnaround to some who thought he'd drop out of the race this summer when his entire paid Iowa staff quit. They questioned how much he was willing to work to win the nomination. But Gingrich's daughter said she learned to never count her dad out. She told me, "People said, oh, he's going to drop out. I was like, absolutely not! This is not a man who drops out or gives up easily. He lost twice before he ever won for Congress. He lost in '74 and 1976. And both times that he lost, the next day, we as a family got up early, went to the Ford factory at the morning shift changes, probably around 6 o'clock, shook hands and said, thank you for your help. Be back again."

Did you catch the mention of "we as a family got up early"? Probably not the last time we will hear about family as Gingrich continues toward the Iowa Caucuses.

Romney Ad Response to Gingrich Surge?

Romney Responds: Mitt Romney and his campaign have worked for months to play that expectations game: use a more national strategy and focus on other states, rather than put so much emphasis on Iowa like he did 4 years ago. That's when he spent $10 million and still lost to Mike Huckabee's low budget operation. So this time around, his camp lowers expectations on where he can finish on caucus night. However, I think some people may mis-read what Romney has done this time. He has hardly blown off the state. Sure, he's not been here as much as many politicos, including Governor Terry Branstad and his former key state operative Doug Gross, have wanted. But Romney's people have worked to re-connect with supporters from 4 years ago through phone calls, literature and social media, along with trying to forge new connections in a more traditional business setting. Romney stood with South Dakota Senator John Thune before several hundred employees of Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines a few weeks ago. Tonight, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie holds another town hall at Kum & Go's headquarters in West Des Moines. The events give Romney a chance to focus more on more moderate Republicans, Independents and business-minded voters who aren't caught up as much in the social issues, where Romney's changing positions have given him trouble with some.

Romney's hope to lower expectations has worked, perhaps too well. He finishes 2nd or 3rd in every major recent poll of Iowa: The Des Moines Register, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times and the NBC/Marist. Newt Gingrich has strong leads in every one of those polls. And as long-time Iowa Republican activist Dave Roederer told me this week, that means Gingrich's new expectation is to win Iowa. Obviously, that's a huge change from just a few weeks ago. Roederer adds, though, that we'll see if Gingrich can put together a traditional caucus organization so rapidly to take advantage of his stunning turnaround. Roederer, by the way, is uncommitted to a campaign this time around as he serves as the state's budget director. He lead John McCain's efforts here 4 years ago.

Romney is out with a new ad. See if you think it's a subtle jab at his new rival in Iowa, who happens to have two ex-wives.

ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT, “LEADER”

Boston, MA – Romney for President today announced a new television advertisement that will be going up in Iowa and New Hampshire this week titled “Leader.” Throughout his life, Mitt Romney has been true to his family, his faith, and his country. As president, he will stay true to those same values and will never apologize for America.

To View “Leader,” Please See: http://mi.tt/rqmuys

AD Facts: Script For “Leader” (TV:30)

MITT ROMNEY: “I think people understand that I’m a man of steadiness and constancy. I don’t think you’re going to find somebody who has more of those attributes than I do.

“I’ve been married to the same woman for 25 – excuse me, I’ll get in trouble – for 42 years. I’ve been in the same church my entire life. I worked at one company, Bain, for 25 years. And I left that to go off and help save the Olympic Games.

“If I’m President of the United States, I will be true to my family, to my faith, and to our country, and I will never apologize for the United States of America.

“I’m Mitt Romney, and I approve this message.”

Former Iowa Governor Endorses Romney

Ray for Romney: Iowa's most prominently-elected Republicans: Governor Terry Branstad, Senator Chuck Grassley, Congressman Steve King and Congressman Tom Latham have all declined to endorse a Republican presidential candidate so far in this race. But today, Mitt Romney's campaign announced former Iowa Governor Bob Ray has endorsed his efforts. Governor Ray isn't an active as he once was in Iowa politics, of course, but you do still see him make numerous public appearances. Ray's approval will add to that "establishment" list of supporters Romney's camp has been releasing. I wonder when we will see Newt Gingrich start to release prominent supporters?

Here's the release from the campaign:

MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR ROBERT RAY

Boston, MA – Mitt Romney today announced the support of former Iowa Governor Robert Ray.

“I am truly honored to have Governor Ray’s support,” said Mitt Romney. “Not only was he a great governor but he is also a tremendous leader with a long history serving both Iowa and the country. In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with Governor Ray to bring my message of a “Simpler, Smaller, and Smarter” approach to government to all Iowans.”

Announcing his support, former Governor Ray said, “I want our next president to be someone whose character and judgment I respect and whose ideas are valid for our country. I believe Mitt Romney offers the personal qualities and vision to become a truly great president. Mitt has a strong record in business, including turning around the Winter Olympics, and leading the state of Massachusetts. Mitt Romney would represent America’s values and interests in an uncertain, challenging, and competitive world. With our future in mind, I am proud to support Governor Romney in the caucuses and hope to vote for him next November.”

Background On Governor Robert Ray:

Robert Ray Was The Governor Of Iowa From 1969 Until 1983. After leaving office, Governor Ray also served as interim Mayor of Des Moines and as interim President of Drake University. He also founded the character education program, Character Counts. Governor Ray is a U.S. Army veteran and was a delegate to the United Nations Conference on Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland.

Gingrich Staffing Up in Iowa

Back Again: Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich has lured back two Iowans who quit his presidential efforts this summer. Craig Schoenfeld and Katie Koberg have joined the campaign as senior advisers. Both will help set up a statewide organizational effort in the final weeks before the January 3rd caucuses. More staff announcements should be coming, as Gingrich told me two weeks ago. Schoenfeld confirmed the moves. He previously cited concerns Gingrich wasn't spending enough time in the state when he and the entire Iowa paid staff quit Gingrich's campaign in June. But he now feels more comfortable with Gingrich's commitment to the state, along with Gingrich's rapid rise in the polls.

The two will have much work to do with so little time left before January, especially in light of the statewide infrastructure and organizations other campaigns established months ago.

Iowa Parades

Politicians on Parades: In case the floats, free candy and bands aren't enough, presidential candidates will also be stepping off around Iowa on Independence Day. Here's the lineup I have so far...

Rick Santorum--Hopefully, he has comfortable shoes. And he might want to pack an extra t-shirt, too. Santorum's schedule shows him walking in 3 parades Monday.

10:00am CT: Senator Santorum will take part in the Urbandale, IA Independence Day parade. Parade begins on 70th Street south of Douglas Street and heads to Old City Hall.

2:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will take part in the Pella, IA Independence Day parade. Parade route begins at Scholte Church, 2805 Fifield Road in Pella.

5:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will take part in the Iowa Falls, IA Independence Day parade. Parade begins on the corner of River Street and Union Street.

Newt Gingrich--It's a much lighter schedule for Gingrich than Santorum (that's one of the complaints from his former Iowa staffers). Gingrich's schedule says he will take part in the Clear Lake Parade at 10am.

Michele Bachmann--Gingrich will have some company in Clear Lake. Bachmann's coming, too. Maybe they could walk together...do a little step-for-step debate along the parade route?

I don't see any Iowa parades on the schedules for Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty or Hermain Cain.

Oh, yeah, I saw nothing on Mitt Romney or Jon Hunstman's schedules for Iowa parades either, just in case you wondered.

Des Moines Register Poll

Surprise, Surprise: The Des Moines Register sure just made some news with its first poll of likely Republican caucus goers for 2012. It was our understanding the poll would go up live on the Register's site at 9pm central, but it's already all over the internet about an hour early.

Nevertheless, here's my take, along with the results:


Mitt Romney: 23%. I feel surprised and not surprised by Romney's place. He's not showing Iowans much love so far this cycle but spent a bunch of time and dough in the state for 2008. So his name i.d. remains high. I wondered if more Iowans would "punish" him for skipping the state for the most part this cycle. But that doesn't really seem to be the case, at least not yet. What will this news do for the Romney camp? Will he skip the Republican Party of Iowa Straw Poll and then pick up the pace in the state after that if his poll standing stays high? Or does he think this poll shows he will do pretty well, even without spending much time here in the next 7 months, so he can save his time and money for New Hampshire and other states?

Michele Bachmann: 22%. She has to be the biggest positive surprise of the poll. And it could make for a nice weekend for her as she gets set to announce her campaign in her hometown of Waterloo in northeastern Iowa. O.K., it's really her "re-announcement" since she already announced during the CNN debate this month. Either way, this has to give her supporters a big lift. Will her campaign now show the organization and discipline it needs to carry through with a strong straw poll finish in August? And can she handle the raised expectations that will now follow thanks to this strong showing? She recently faced more "quiet" talk in Iowa that she could be one of the frontrunners. But this poll will now only intensify that talk. But it sure looks like she found a way to get back some of the attention Sarah Palin's Iowa visit this Tuesday threatened to take away, huh?


Herman Cain: 10%. I'm a bit surprised by this. He has been campaigning all over the state but I didn't know if enough Iowans knew him yet. I guess they do. I'm sure not what kind of campaign organization he has. He has some strength with the tea partiers and he knows how to fire up a crowd. I guess we'll find out in the next 7 weeks for the straw poll. But Cain has apparently made a name for himself so far. As a top 3 guy now in this poll, we will see how he faces the media scrutinty that could follow.

Newt Gingrich: 7%. I guess it's safe to say Iowa staffers aren't jumping up and down with this finish. Of course, he no longer has any paid Iowa staffers. Gingrich surely has some solid name recognition from his time in office. And this poll could show he has just a bit to go to find a top three finish. But will this month's implosion of his campaign push him down, especially since he didn't secure a site in the straw poll? And this poll was still interviewing caucus goers before his implosion had actually finished. So does it really reflect the state's full feelings toward him now? Or is this whole struggling campaign storyline overblown?

Ron Paul: 7%. I thought Paul might fare a little better. I thought he would come ahead of Cain and Gingrich. Paul has said his ideas are more mainstream this campaign, more so than the previous two times he's run for president. This poll shows he has a ways to go to find a strong showing. The straw poll could be a big test for his organizational strength to push him into the top tier.

Tim Pawlenty: 6%. Ouch. What more can you say? Pawlenty is essentially all in for Iowa. He has hired a big staff. But this poll doesn't show that he's connecting with people. He faces a TON of pressure in the next 7 weeks to up his standing for the straw poll. Does he have to shake up his staff? Does he have to change his message? Does he have to be more aggressive in his words and demeanor? What's next for him? If he doesn't pick it up, will he be done after the straw poll?


Rick Santorum: 4%. Santorum started out being not very well-known. This poll shows he has a long way to go to make a name for himself. He has spent as much time here as just about any other candidate. But it's not translating into supporters. If he finishes about this low in the straw poll, is his campaign finished?

2012: Gingrich and Bachmann

Their Words, Your Thoughts: Newt Gingrich said he screwed around on his wife because he loved his country. I'm curious if your spouse would take that as a legitimate excuse. Mine wouldn't. Gingrich made his comments to CBN's David Brody during an interview at the famous Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa (my mother-in-law's favorite breakfast place when she comes to town). Gingrich said his passion for the country lead him to do things that were inappropriate. O.K., married people, how would this excuse go over at home?

History Problem: Michele Bachmann offered an historic gaffe during her stop in New Hampshire about the "shot heard 'round the world". The gaffe may not be historic. But the topic was. She apparently confused the Granite State's history with its neighbor, Massachusetts. Hopefully, for her sake, she ad libbed that speech. And she just had a mental mix up. Because if she prepped that line for the speech and then said it, that would really be an unfortunate "oops".
But, perhaps, even more embarrassing for Bachmann is this: that moment in history is intertwined with the genesis of today's tea partiers and Bachmann is a proud member of that tea party group. Oops.

By the way, don't think she's not serious about running. Indianola Senator Kent Sorenson is already working to push support for her (on a volunteer basis) in Iowa. More to come on this...

Bachmann will be interesting to follow if Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin don't run. It sure doesn't seem like Huckabee is planning to run, at least not yet. Eric Woolson, Huckabee's campaign manger for his 2008 winning (Charlie Sheen has now ruined that word, "winning") Iowa Caucus campaign just had to announce his support for Tim Pawlenty, after word of the future support leaked out in the Washington Post. Palin has been scarce in this state as her poll numbers fall. I don't know of any elected official pushing Palin's cause so far. Conservative blogger, Shane Vander Hart, is a Palin backer and posts about her on his Caffeinated Thoughts blog. But that's about it, as far as I know.

Gingrich in Iowa, CBS and CNN merger

Professor Gingrich: We had an early start to the day to go see a presidential candidate. Can I call Newt Gingrich that yet? Gingrich headlined a breakfast fundraiser for Iowa 3rd District Republican Congressional Candidate Brad Zaun at 7:30. Zaun seems to be one of those high energy campaigner-guys, so it probably wasn't just the morning cup of joe that had him all over the stage at the Des Moines Christian School in Urbandale. But many in the room (200 or so) were more likely there to hear from the former U.S. Speaker of the House Gingrich. Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson has audio of the event.

I asked Gingrich his role. He said, "maybe teacher...or a coach". Gingrich is traveling across the country (he said he hopes to get to all 50 states) to help teach campaigns had to run an effective operation. He said he will decide next February or March whether he will run for president. I think he has made similar comments before. But it does seem like he is looking at a run a little more seriously than he did in '08.

Gingrich was one of the lead architects of the Republican revolution in 1994 with his Contract with America. I asked how he would compare 2010 with 1994. He said, "the economy is much worse now. Obama is much more radical than Clinton. The country is much more worried. And I think Republicans by September have to have a good, positive message. I think they have a real chance to win a decisive victory."

He added part of the winning strategy should be focusing on the economy, not exclusively, but at least showing how everything...education, tax policy, etc. comes back to the economy. He said, "The underlying theme should be what do we need to do to get America back to work and what do we need to for jobs. And I think for most Americans, that's the heart of our current dilemma."

I did hear a commercial pitch 4 or 5 times (unintentional? intentional?) where he mentioned "Obama's secular, socialist machine." The name of his book? "To Save America: Stopping Obama's Secular-Socialist Machine."

50 dollars to get into the event. The menu looked like fruit and muffins. No sign of any fig "newt"ons. Yeah, I know. That was lame:)

In case you were wondering... one of his staffers said Gingrich would be making an appearance at the Iowa State Fair. Thinkin' about 2012 are you, Mr. Speaker? Maybe he just wanted to try those fried Twinkies.

Fair Vote: Dallas County Republicans think residents are putting their pennies where their support is. It's a pocketful of votes, but Republicans fared well in their vote at the county fair. Speaking of...word has it that Channel 13's Cast Your Kernel will return to the Iowa State Fair. Stay tuned for details on that one:)

CBS/CNN: NBC has MSNBC and CNBC. ABC has ESPN. CBS has? Perhaps, CNN. There's a report the two could do some type of news-sharing operation to save money, cut jobs, etc.

Homeland Security Site Attacked, Culver Casinos, Gingrich Iowa,

The state agency charged with helping to keep Iowa safe has had its website "compromised", according to the Des Moines Register. The Iowa Department of Homeland Security reported the incident in an email this morning. How does that make you feel?

During the 2006 campaign, Chet Culver said he favored more casinos for Iowa. Radio Iowa's Kay Henderson reports that now during this 2010 campaign, Governor Culver is again pushing for more casinos. Although, according to the story, Culver has now doubled the number of new casinos he wants from 2 to 4. Are you ready for more casinos? Or does Iowa already have enough? Too many?

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is headed back to Iowa on May 26th to headline the Polk County Republicans Spring dinner. The county GOP hasn't released the dinner location yet but said it will be in the Des Moines metro. Palin, Huckabee, Romney, Pataki, Pawlenty and now Gingrich? Is that 2012 I smell around the corner?!

ETC...

The Des Moines Social Club turns 1 this weekend and hosts a birthday celebration.

My wife has her birthday Friday. We'll host her birthday celebration at one of her favorite West Des Moines restaurants. She turns...am I supposed to say how old she is?:)

I have to try to put together our new crib this weekend. It's one of those combinations that eventually pulls into a toddler bed. I have no handyman skills. This could get interesting.

Thanks for reading.