Daily Archives: 05/18/2011

(Community Matters) Nick Espinosa dumped glitter on Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, during a book-signing event in Minneapolis.

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(Community Matters) She’s definitely in for the runoff – too much is at stake. Huge differences between the candidates and for the future of Austin, too much not to allow voters to decide.

“Despite the view of some political pundits, I am confident that we can compete effectively and win the run-off election.  The turnout on May 14th was just 7% — the lowest turnout in decades.  The final margin between myself and my opponent on Election Day was just over 4,000 votes — less than 1/2 of 1% of Austin’s population.  That margin is too small, and the differences of opinion between myself and my opponent too big, for me and my supporters to quit this race.”

The cost of the election pales in comparison to the millions Randi’s opponent would cost Austin.

(Community Matters) Shortest presidential campaign ever?

Mike Allen’s Playbook: THE PERSON YOU DON’T WANT TO BE TODAY: Newt Gingrich, who yesterday had to apologize to Paul Ryan for dissing his Medicare plan on “Meet the Press,” fend off questions about a Tiffany’s debt, and endure repeated airing of a video of an Iowa voter saying: “Get out now before you make a bigger fool of yourself.”

–Rich Galen, the veteran strategist and former Gingrich aide, says the campaign is “close to being functionally over” unless “adult supervision” is brought in: “This is what people in Washington knew would be the great weakness of a Newt presidential campaign: that he would say whatever came into his head, the moment it came into his head.” The telephoned apology has not solved his problems. A top House GOP aide emails: “The response and eventual apology proved how unprepared he is for a 21st-century political campaign.” http://bit.ly/mypuwh

–Team Gingrich thinks the crisis is serious but survivable. He held two conference calls with tea-party leaders, and one with conservative bloggers. Rick Tyler: “We’ve tried to correct the record and admit it could have been done better. Newt will get up to bat again, and he’ll hit a home run. This is just one event. I don’t think it’s a defining event.” http://bit.ly/lhP2XY