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MANCHESTER, N.H. -- With mere weeks until New Hampshire's primary, Mitt Romney and the surging Newt Gingrich's campaigns are a study in contrast.
Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts and the longstanding favorite to win the nation's first primary, is a veteran operation whose structure is built squarely on experience, steadiness and New Hampshire roots.
Gingrich, whose campaign is in the midst of a renaissance since having been all but written off this summer, has the wind at his back. His Granite State operation is younger, entrepreneurial and free-wheeling.
With five weeks to go until the election, each campaign, which are separated by just a mile of light traffic on Manchester's main drag, share a single goal: buckle down, stay on top, survive and win.
Gingrich's campaign is trying to capitalize on newfound interest in his rebounding campaign, driven in part by an endorsement by the influential New Hampshire Union Leader. The campaignjust added its first paid staffer at the end of October; Over the past few weeks, Gingrich has hired eight staff members, opened a headquarters, and fanned out across the state to capitalize on new interest in Newt Gingrich.
State director Andrew Hemingway is hiring their first set of field staffers, and brought on Carli Dimino, who will serve as their Hispanic outreach coordinator. Dimino drove to New Hampshire from Pennsylvania on a whim because she just wanted to help in any way she could, Hemingway said.
Dimino's hiring is indicative of a larger organizational spirit, Hemingway explains. With little direction from their national staff, Hemingway and his team are rapidly building a structure to drive voter turnout on the Jan. 10 primary day.
The challenge for Gingrich is to build on the new momentum, and not allow it to dissipate by the primary.
One mile down Elm Street, the Romney campaign is keenly aware of the ongoing search for a "Mitt alternative" and is taking nothing for granted. The memory of losing the lead ahead of the 2008 primary is still fresh in their memory. This weekend, Romney himself and his surrogate-in-chief Tim Pawlenty will launch a major push for supporters using their well-oiled grassroots operation that the campaign calls "second to none."
"We have an even stronger grassroots organization in 2011 than we did in 2007 and we've been able to retain the vast majority of the support we were able to build in 2007," spokesperson Ryan Williams told NBC News.
This Saturday at an event entitled "Earn It with Mitt," Romney's campaign says they will knock on 5,000 doors, make 12,000 volunteer phone calls and send 500 volunteers out across the state. According to Williams, Romney has visited all 10 counties and done 17 town hall-style meetings while his campaign has knocked on 26,000 doors and made 200,000 supporter calls to date.
Romney's advisers have the benefit of experience when it comes to running for president. Their 2012 campaign is leaner than the 2008 operation; Romney himself is deployed selectively, and he's focused the bulk of his effort on winning here, where he maintains a home. They hope an intense ground game will help stave off a reprise of 2008.
"We have focused on running a traditional grassroots New Hampshire campaign," said Romney's New Hampshire state director Jason McBride.
This Saturday, McBride explained, is "one of the many steps that Mitt Romney, the campaign, and its volunteers and supporters will take to earn the support of the voters in the run up to the New Hampshire primary."
Gingrich's campaign, by contrast, cites signs of raw enthusiasm in the former Speaker's candidacy as a sign of their rise.
"Stuff is just happening by themselves," Hemingway told NBC News. "You can't buy that. it doesn't matter what your organization -- that is the type of passion that's been tapped into.... It's kind of taken on a life of its own and it is kind of like a fire hose. But I don't think we are drinking from it, we are trying to point it in the right direction."
But there are growing pains, too, associated with the campaign's works to quickly become operational. Two weeks ago, Gingrich's campaign submitted a list of delegates scrawled in sloppy handwriting to the Secretary of State's office and opted not to fill out the maximum 20 delegate spots and 20 alternates. Although only 12 delegates are required by the Republican National Committee and Gingrich's campaign surpassed that, the campaign's style was interpreted as messy and disorganized.
In response, New Hampshire communications director Matt LeDuc sent out a rapid-fire statement yesterday. This morning, he followed up by sending supporters an unlikely list of direct email addresses for staffers in the state, including personal email contacts for a couple of their most senior advisors.
"We want to make sure you know how to reach us, anytime," LeDuc wrote. "So go ahead, email us. We're probably up working anyway."
Hemingway believes the bumps and bruises comes with the territory, and he is confident they will cement a base of supporters to help them fan out across the state that is critical to Romney's path to the nomination.
"This is what I tell my staff every day: we can talk about all the national polls that we want, but the reality is that we are 10 points behind, in the fourth quarter and we just have to put our heads down and win over the next person that we talk to," Hemingway said.
But winning against a well-organized Romney campaign machine in the midst of such a new surge will not be easy.
"Probably this time last month, the interest in the Gingrich campaign in this state was probably something akin to a drip that was coming out of a kitchen faucet. Now it's something that's akin to a firehose going off," said Rich Killion, an unaffiliated New Hampshire-based political consultant who previously supported Tim Pawlenty.
"Even with 40 days, we have a lifetime til this race gets off. Mitt Romney is strong but New Hampshire is always tough ground to close on. "[Voters] decide late and they decide late by habit. Newt Gingrich is being given an opportunity to audition to be the alternative," Killion said. "Others have failed at this becase of inability or inaction."
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The republicans are already saying they don't want what Newt stands for or represents.They are not to keen on his pro life stance two months ago and the flip flop to his current belief ! ..lol and the affairs and marriages..and not taking his marriage vow seriously !
I'll be the first to say it here - the Newt Gingrich 'candidacy' is a SHAM, just like the Sperminator's was.
The GOP is using Gingrich to 'highlight' Romney - and it looks like First Read is falling for it.
This Oaf will fall due to the baggage he has (he has more baggage than an airline carousel) and VOILA - we have our 'true' frontrunner - Mitt Romney.
There is no excuse for this craziness other than everyone - especially conservatives - are being manipulated.
The GOP is manipulating Conservatives into putting up money for support and book sales and the Conservatives are falling for it.
I know that I find it QUITE ODD that almost every 'candidate' has been the 'front runner' in this process. Are Conservatives THAT STUPID or are the poll numbers being manipulated???
I am going with being manipulated... by the GOP.
Blingrich can lie and flip-flop with the best of them. I'm hoping his big fat bragging mouth will bring him down though - stuff like about how he's so rich from lobbying, selling books and favors to suckers that he just doesn't have to worry about doing it anymore. All from "public" service and our tax dollars. Or maybe the half-million bill he ran up at Tiffanys. Yeah a real role model he is....
In his heyday, Gingrich was widely regarded as a dirty-dealing, back-stabbing, corrupt politician who made many enemies in his own party as well as among the opposition. He also has so many skeletons in his closet he had to rent extra space to hold them all. His campaign will increasingly consist of denying rumors, attempting to squash reports of his personal dishonesty, and trying to spin scandals in his professional career and his personal life.
I would be willing to bet the DNC is praying Newt wins the nomination.
I would rather have Romney over Humpty Dumpty !
I guess if they push hard enough, eventually a turd is going to drop into the toilet and there will be a true front runner for the Teapubs. I can't ever remember it being this comical before. With the hatred they have for Obama, you would think they could find someone to seriously challenge him. But the dog and pony show continues with a new star each week. Who's left. Ron Paul? Sanitarium? Huntsman makes too much sense so he's not even considered. Ha, this too funny.
Let the games begin!
Sadly, for the right wingers there is no 'best' man to come out as a winner...
It's like having to chose whether to settle for tainted Chinese dog food or E-coli infected tomato's!
Can I just pick salmonella on spinach?
Messy and disorganized. Yep, that's the guy I want for president - NOT
All of 'em, eh Say?
And yes phinep - messy and disorganized, the way we like our American politics. You know - unlike the more orderly, no mess elections in fun, happy places like China and Iran.
Oh and now Egypt - cause that is now going super good. Muslim Brotherhood? No worries cause they also got a strong dose of Salafists. Yep, should be a veritable progressive paradise over there, right gang?
So exactly where does a women come in now? Men, boys, AK-47s, domesticated animals, then women. Plus you get a load of what they are sayin gin Saudi Arabia? If women could drive it'd lead to no virgins and more gays.
You got to love those guys. all of them.
Thank god for our messiness. Besides - our guys are not perfect, but you all are stuck with President awesome.
Wrong track at a plus 80%. No way he can withstand that. 80%!
Spankles...
Still looking for those links to Trumps failures? Just let me know...I'll point you in the right direction.
Oh, wait...I see you're too busy changing the subject...again.
...carry on, "counselor"...
Brilliant analysis there Mickey.
I 'changed the subject.'
So consumed by your love of Spanky, so determined to follow me around you lose sight of the fact we have moved on to a whole new article.
Nice work Mickey. I guess we can rule out detective as a possible occupation for you.
You know it really might be time for you to shut off the computer and go outside.
Try to get some actual face to face human interaction.
Aw, what am I saying - I'm here Mickey - come bask in your Spanky love.
Gingrich is the end of a long line of "Celebrity Candidates":
Palin: Books, Speaking, Interviews, Dancing with the Stars
Trump: Books, Speaking, Interviews, Syndicated Reality TV Show
Cain: Books, Speaking, Interviews, Booty
Gingrich: Books, Speaking, Interviews, Booty, Lobbying
I see this Feisty Redhead's main problem. He/she is too obvious. Like a Rush Limbaugh. Over the top with B.S.
Sadly, for the right wingers there is no 'best' man to come out as a winner...
And no surprise that the two that may have made a serious difference and offered them hope, decided to stay away. Daniels and Christie were smart to distance themselves, and will focus instead on 2016, when they have a stronger chance. Cracks me up. No one wants to lose to (in their words only) the worst President in the history of not only these United States, but the entire world. Seems like we had the worst one I can remember just prior to the 44th.
Poor Mittens, he's just the Cowardly Lion ---- Newt is the Coward who tries to hide behind crass behavior and bluster!
Newt isn't going anywhere. Neither is Cain.
Romney will win NH.
There's probably a police stand-by at the Cain home, at this moment!
Can't wait for the Republican debate with Trump moderating. I still believe that Trump is working for the Obama administration and will probably emerge from the debate giving himself an endorsement and pretending to run for President again. Can't wait until that Tate thing starts her birth certificate and social security card conspiracy theory again, or still, with Trump's blessing. Maybe those items will come up in the debate? Who needs late night. Comedy begins at 8pm with Republican debates.
Gotta remember to call the senior gang and make sure they keep Uncle Bob in lock down. Don't want another scare with his heart while watching the Trump and the GOP debate!
The most recent poll finds that Republican voters have elevated Newt Gingrich to presidential front runner status. But it is hard to consider that those supporting him concur with his amnesty agenda or are even alert that Gingrich suggestion sounds like it would give U.S. jobs and residency to approximately 3.5 million illegal aliens (according to a new Pew Hispanic Center study)
Unless the former speaker’s supporters thrust him back from this plan of promising this even bigger amnesty, than the giant blanket amnesty of 1986 that was supposed to be the first and last one ever will be dwarfed in comparison. Probably the largest portion of the TEA PARTY membership; clearly recognized as the ‘American People’ of every racial persuasion, of every background, every age group and faith relationship are against a mass amnesty.
You can send an email to Gingrich by Google his site http://www.newt.org/contact. Click on the "Platform" option and make him aware of what you want him to change and how you feel about his immigration platform.
GINGRICH, BUSH & OBAMA SEE ONLY THE OPTIONS OF DEPORTATION OR LEGALIZATION (Attrition through Enforcement isn't in their terminology) Go to NumbersUSA to study the damage of legalizing of at least 3.5 million will cause. Of course that is if you accept the ridiculous notion that only 11.5 million migrants and immigrants have settled illegal in America. More near the mark is somewhere over 20 million population figure.
Gingrich agrees with former President Bush and also Obama that the only major exceptions for illegal aliens are deporting them or legalizing them (choices that almost all Liberal mainstream press also insist on).
His official immigration proposal gives no tip-off of recognizing that there is a third option -- ‘ATTRITION THROUGH ENFORCEMENT ‘ purges the jobs and welfare magnets for foreign nationals, thus that they will self-deport back to their homes in other nations. Hence, Gingrich is at odds with most of the other GOP candidates and most GOP Members of Congress, The Tea Party who favor the Attrition alternative.
PROBLEM IS since brazenly advocated his legalization agenda in the debate last week, he has informed his critics by telling them to read his official “TEN STEPS TO A LEGAL NATION “and his “7-Point Plan.” Those have read this roadmap to legalization and studied both and are more alarmed than ever.
We are in agreement with Gingrich and with the Pew Center that Gingrich is not suggesting-- a blanket amnesty contrasting differently from Bush and Obama. There are two key opportunities in Gingrich's proposals so far for limiting the harm:
Currently, though, voters should not be misinformed by Gingrich's public use of examples of illegal aliens who have been in the U.S. for 25 years. What about 20 years or even 10 years? Even 5 years is not mentioned? Nothing on his website or the ‘10 Step or 7 points’ limits that Gingrich Amnesty proposal to people who have been here 25 years or more. In fact, nothing puts any kind of time limit. To qualify for the Gingrich Amnesty right now, one need only have “deep ties” of “family, church and community?”
Gingrich supporters should require him to at least persuade a 25-year residency requirement in his website amnesty plan. Otherwise we could end up with millions more people attracted by his clemency and rising the costs to even higher layers of schools for their children, health care, the food stamps, WIC, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC); WIC a federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children. WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding healthcare and other community services. Low income housing, and even more supplementary programs, which our old, infirm and homeless are ineligible for?
This is your money the government is spending, taking it forcibly from your taxes. Go to any emergency hospital they are packed with foreign nationals with their children. Go to any border state school that has a present enrollment of 87 percent children of illegal aliens. It costs $113 billion dollars annually now Heritage Foundation), what’s it going to spiral to in another year, five years or ten? God! American cannot even feed their own families or keep a roof over their head?
The paramount problem is, if Gingrich wins and passes his idea of an amnesty to the Congress, then on being made law millions more will try and reach this nation? One the clarion call goes out from word of mouth, across the airwaves—unfettered numbers will be encouraged to come?
Sovereignty minded Americans should contact the Ways and Means Committee accountable for bringing ‘The Legal Workforce Act’, bill H.R.2885 to the House floor in Congress. Only the American voter or legal resident has a voice in this urgent matter, which will decrease large numbers of jobs procured by the 8.2 illegal workers, which is estimated to self-deport. The number to call for the Washington politicians is 202-224-3121. The legislators need to pay attention to the People, instead of misleading us anymore. If you have further questions read about the widespread corruption in the federal and state governments at ‘Judicial Watch.’ Be attentive that the TEA PARTY does not agree with any kind of Amnesty, Dream Acts or Sanctuary cities.
WEll what I see is Mitt campaign as usual nothing much different than any other election cycle
With Newt I see problems being discussed , solutions and or talking points for solutions being discussed
Our country is in deep deep trouble and we must have solutions , Newt is the only candidate providing an actively seeking solutions for the significant number of problems facing our country
AND I would like to point out these problems are only going to increase in the next year or so ,it is not like this is the end this is all the problems , NO INDEED we have many more problems fixing to surface at any given time
P.S. the Newt - obama Debates are going to make history as the greatest debates of all time ,WORLD HISTORY , and we get to witness it
Newt is a pos and shouldn't even be allowed to debate given his violation of federal tax law and lying to the congressional ethics panel. His pandering of political influence has been appalling as has his enrichment via public service. Not to mention all of his "personal" problems and misogyny.
And stop rooting against the economy just to get rid of Obama. This crap borders on treason!!!
"P.S. the Newt - obama Debates are going to make history as the greatest debates of all time ,WORLD HISTORY , and we get to witness it"
Especially if your idea of history is watching Obama crush one of the most corrupt politicians in US history in a public forum. I doubt the American electorate will allow such a bottom feeder as Gingrich represent it in a national election, though. Romney will be the likely choice as the GOP's candidate, but he's not a good one.
Hey Darrell,
That s*** they grow in Canada is pretty good, isn't it?
Hey Darrell,
You need to quit parting on Willie Nelson's bus!!!!! Your delusional dude!!!!
Romney is the same book as Obama with a different cover.
You can not trust Gingrich and he is also for big government.
Ron Paul is the only canidate that wants to return to the Constitution. Less government means more freedom for you and me to do as we please.
Vote Ron Paul for President 2012.
Most of the Democrats have turned into Communists and most of the Republicans have turned into Democrats.
We the people need a true blooded American that fights for our rights of freedom.
Ron Paul is one of the only canidates that does that.
"Most of the Democrats have turned into Communists and most of the Republicans have turned into Democrats."
Congratulations! You win the asinine comment of the day award!
This just in ..... Republican Jewish Coalition bars Ron Paul from debate. Wow ..... This paranoid Jewish Group would rather hear how Gingrich supports the internment of Americans if anyone objects to the government through the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act).
Ron Paul 2012!!!
Surging Newt? Newt Gingrich would make a great villain in a Dickens Novel. Let's relax the child labor laws. Don't educate poor children, train them to perform the dirty jobs. This man is mean-spirited and heartless (remember his advocating sending poor kids to orphanages), not to mention having the morals of an alley cat, the integrity of a grifter and a Gibaltar-sized ego. Never!
Gee, when the general election gets underway, and the Repubs have a candidate, do you think the Msnbc reporters will ask Obama the "hard" questions?? LOL
"Mr.President, why did you usher the lobbyists through the back door of the White House when you said there would be no lobbyists?"
"Mr. President , why didn't you work to find solutions for the 11 million illegals since you promised that?"
"Mr.President, why didn't you ask Congress before you sent ( under the guise of the U.N. doing it) drones to Libya to oust the dictator?"
"Mr.President , why don't you better protect our borders since the Govenors of those border states are asking for help?"
"Mr.President, why sink billions into "green" companies after being told they are going to go bankrupt?"
Say it isn't so! No one is allowed to talk before Feisty!
Not a big fan of Newt or Romney- too much in common with Obama.
Jeff,
that is a good point.
But you will have to choose your medicine.
Obama vs the Republican.
ABO
Obama should become president of the whole world! I think he is the greatest man on this earth. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE OBAMA.
Ahh, another Obama leg-humper. Pathetic.
Ron Paul 2012
It is really very simple AT LEAST FOR INTELLIGENT PEOPLE
Mitt is running a standard campaign nothing new same ole boring stuff
Newt is talking about the problems ,providing talking points on solutions ,Newt is taking a leadership role in involving the American people addressing the problems and solutions for these problems facing our country ,AND OUR COUNTRY is in deep deep trouble
The Newt obama debates are going to make history as the greatest debates of all time Newt with the solutions obama with FAILED policies
Oh, Darrel! You make me laugh out loud! If wishful thinking sold at a penny a pound, you would be a millionaire!
Did anyone notice Obama's feeble attemts at making political hay out of the "decrease" in unemployment??
Holiday temporary help does not fix the Great Obama Depression.
He has a LONG way to go to convince anyone that our economy is improving. Watch the unemployment figures go up again in February. What a joke we have in the Oval Office.
Unpatriotic hypocrite! Keep rooting against the economy, TeaBaggot. TP will not have a pot to piss in come 2012 in the Presidency or Congress..
Ron Paul will only vote legally. He is the most trust worthy man in the field. If congress brings him a bill that is not supported by our constitution, as president he will VETO it. This is what Ron Paul is about. If the law is good enough to be supported by an amendment to our constitution, then he is all for amending the constitution. Congress needs to uphold the Constitution. Our founding fathers would be proud of this man. We have got to get all of these special interest guys out of office, and put people in that care about freedom and liberty! Ron Paul is a good guy. I hope his running mate is Rand! That would be awesome. If anyone one of these other guys that are running for president gets elected then our country will go bankrupt, almost immediately. The Amero will be the new form of currency in Mexico, United States, and Canada. Our constitution will no longer exist. This is a last ditch effort to save our constitution, before all that we have worked so hard for is lost. Don't let the men and women that have fought and died for our country, die in vain, to a socialist that doesn't care about our country and our way of thinking. LET FREEDOM RING! Ron Paul 2012!
Prediction time. (Remember you heard it here first)
Mitt Romney will win the nomination of the Great Republican Party, and go on to win the Presidency for eight years.
The House will become even more Republican than before.
The Senate will have a Republican majority (Only three more seats needed) and will have a Republican Senate majority leader. Finally Old "Whorehouse" Harry Reid will sit quietly and mumble to himself.