Newt Gingrich
It came as little surprise when, on November 27, Newt Gingrich announced that he wouldn't run for president. After all, a Republican candidacy isn't the cottage industry it looked like a few months ago: Pete Wilson and Arlen Specter recently discovered that a campaign can't live on ideology alone, Colin Powell's abrupt exit from the race took some of the wind out of the GOP's sails, and recent budget battles haven't exactly made folks warm up to Republicanism.
Always the opportunist, Gingrich was smart enough to know that the light at the end of the tunnel which the Contract With America promised was beginning to look like a cul-de-sac to many Americans. Smartly, he chose not to run. In a primary season that's been dominated by GOP infighting, Newt has played it smart by not playing at all.
It's difficult to say what impact a Gingrich candidacy might have had. Some in the Clinton camp rooted for his entry since he looked like a beatable opponent. It's a fair judgment: with the Contract's opinion-poll star waning, a candidacy would have made Newt the lamest duck in Washington these days (which is saying something). Of course, his exit also lessens the confusion among the Republican candidates, now leaving Bob Dole with a path to nomination almost free of obstacles.
Internet Resources:
- The Newt Gingrich WWW Fan Club
- A virtual altar to the Newt. Listen to him spout off about history and patriotism. Hear him pontificate about the future. See his picture just about everywhere. Yeccchhhh!
- NewtWatch Home Page
- Like Newt or not, you've gotta like this page. Funny, comprehensive and detailed site that's definitely anti-Gingrich. Get the full list of his office's expenditures or hear Newt talk about Giraffe hunting.
- Mother Jones' special supplement on Newt Gingrich
- Read the articles that "scooped the world on Newt Gingrich," according to his ex-wife. Mother Jones was the first to expose the extramarital affairs of our man Newt.
- Will Newt Fall?
- Mother Jones' July/August 1995 cover story on Gingrinch. Read about the variety of ethics charges that Newt could face, and how he may have used his position to slow down the investigation.
- Following Newt's Money
- The MoJo Wire's special section describing Newt's campaign financing front, including GOPAC. This is the only place to get the complete list of GOPAC contributors, with bios by the MoJo Wire investigative team.
- Gingrich's 1994 PAC donations
- C-SPAN publishes this list furnished by the Federal Elections Commission.
- The Progress and Freedom Foundation
- One of the many arms of Newt's fund-raising empire. PFF distributes Gingrich's class and raises money to power Newt's political machinery.
- House Member Directory - Gingrich
- Download the full text of all the legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by the Speaker. Or send him e-mail.
- What's Newt
- Get it? What's NEWt. This page does a good job of keeping up with news about our favorite Speaker of the House.
Newsgroups: