Gingrich for…..well, Gingrich!

Former House Speaker and potential 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich raised a staggering $4 million dollars from June – September, far outpacing the fundraising efforts of other possible 2012 Presidential aspirants Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty. Yet despite raising eye popping amounts of cash, Gingrich is acting more like Ging-Grinch, doling a mere $1,000 to a lone GOP candidate, during July and August.

You read that right -- $1,000! Ah, you're a fine one Mr. Grinch, as Dr. Suess would say.

Gingrich’s has two political groups he uses to raise cash. His main operational focus is centered on American Solutions, registered under Section 527 of the Tax Code, allowing it to accept unlimited donations from individuals and corporations. However, unlike other potential candidates PACs, American Solutions can not donate directly to candidates running for office, nor can these funds be used by Gingrich should he stop playing coy and decide on a future run.

Newt’s other group – American Solutions PAC – can raise money and use it to support candidates. However, it raised an anemic $137,000 during July and August. It ended the period with $133, 000 in the till. It managed to squeeze out a $1,000 donation to Iowa congressional candidate Brad Zaun. The PACs set up by Romney, Palin and others rely on donations from individuals, capped at a maximum of $5,000 per year. These PACs can and do donate directly to candidates running for office.

The 527 group uses its cash to pay for Gingrich’s travel, staff and other expenses, thus allowing him to appear around the nation at numerous personal, Radio and TV appearances bashing President Obama, urging Americans to vote Republican this November and airing his trademark inflammatory opinions, as the GOP's Chief Bloviator. However stumping for and donating to GOP candidates running during this cycle does not seem to rank to high on his agenda.

According to Politico: "By comparison, Romney’s Free and Strong America PACs donated a total of $532,000 in contributions the third quarter, while Palin’s Sarah PAC doled out $93,500 in donations and Pawlenty’s Freedom First PACs doled out more than $197,000 in the third quarter."

Gingrich has polled very well recently among Republicans for the 2012 Nomination, but he has coyly sidestepped any confirmation of a run. The former Speaker prefers to act the flirt, rather than accept the invitation to dance. Having the fundraising infrastructure needed for a national run, Gingrich’s complete lack of effort on the behalf of others, suggests Newt is in the fundraising game for the benefit Newt. Come 2012, it is almost certain Gingrich will be the happy traveler, pontificating on the issues, raising cash and remaining on the sidelines, a place he seems the most comfortable.

The Romney Obituary – Part ?????

Ever since March, when ObamaCare was passed, certain corners of the blogosphere have been abuzz about the imminent political demise of Mitt Romney. It seems a month or two can’t go by without some political reporter re-manufacturing a potential crisis for 2012 GOP Presidential candidate, usually over the health care plan he signed into when Governor of Massachusetts. The emergence of these worn out, dog-eared arguments, from both the Right and Left, typically come whenever polls show Romney leading the GOP for the Republican nomination.

Romney put in a solid month’s work in September, campaigning for national 2010 GOP Candidates. He made high-profile appearances at the Value Voters Summit, the Heritage Foundation, the ACG Capital conference and the New Hampshire State Convention. The end of this busy September saw the release of a Gallup poll showing Romney leading all Republicans for the 2012 nomination, strong numbers in individual state polls including New Hampshire and performing very competitively against President Obama.

So then what happens? A Politico reporter, Carrie Budoff Brown, decides to write an article about how the Republican Conservative base is demanding an apology from Romney for signing MassCare in to law.  

 

Really? What sparked this outcry? Who is clamoring for this apology?

After several readings, no discernable, newsworthy reason for such a demand could be found. Sure, there were quotes from Conservative activists who expressed their opinion on the issue, but those had to be solicited by the author, in order to create a story. It’s not as if there was a conference or meeting on the issue, which came to this conclusion. No, this is just someone looking to stir the pot, meet a deadline or is bereft of new ideas.

Now realistically, Romney will face some tough questions on the health care issue, should he decide to run in 2012. He also will certainly not win over or convince every conservative voter in the Republican Party. But he has no reason to apologize for a implementing a health care law which remains highly popular in the state it was designed for. (Some readers may want to re-read that last sentence a few times so the point sinks in.)

Romney has stated on many occasions (see Q&A during Heritage video above) the MassCare plan is not perfect, which the Politico article gets wrong. Many of the features of MassCare were fashioned in Republican circles for years, including the Heritage Foundation. Many have tried to paint ObamaCare and MassCare as the same, but they are not.

Romney’s biggest challenge in maneuvering through the GOP primary waters will most assuredly be the health care debate. So far, his numbers have not been hurt significantly by his sticking to his guns and not issuing an apology for the MassCare plan. As pointed out in the Politico article, to apologize now would not win Romney any converts and only give his potential rivals an opening to use the “flip-flopper” charge.

Recent polling suggests Romney has a decent slice of the conservative pie in the GOP and dominates among the other wings of the party. This coupled with his strong showing among Tea Party and Undecided voters, indicates Romney has the potential to ride out any criticism of his MassCare plan. It’s rare for a GOP nominee to secure the nomination without some segment of the party either angry or dissatisfied. For 2012, it will be no different, whether that nominee be Mitt Romney or someone else.