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DECORAH, Iowa -- It was almost exactly five months ago when Newt Gingrich was first campaigning in this far Northeastern town in Iowa, but a lot has changed since his last visit.
Gingrich last visited this section of the Hawkeye State in late July, mere weeks after almost all of the former speaker's senior staff quit. During that visit, Gingrich found himself near Luther College for his wife Callista's band reunion concert.
Gingrich was trailing heavily in the polls and almost $1 million in debt at that point, and ventured into Decorah with a bare-bones staff, introducing himself to diners with a quip: “I will be the only Newt Gingrich on the ballot."
Fast-forward five months to Dec. 27. Gingrich and his wife returned Tuesday to the town where Callista graduated college from to hold an event in the pizza shop beneath the apartment she lived in her senior year at Luther.
A crowd of almost 200 people packed the Mabe's Pizza basement to capacity. Press barely fit; print reporters sat on the floor practically beneath the podium at which Gingrich spoke, while TV cameras and still photographers shoved their way into somewhat acceptable positions to shoot the event.
A malt box, speakers, an advance team, security men with ear pieces and press secretaries were all seen crammed in the crowded room. The campaign manager rarely travels with the candidate anymore and the Gingriches, with their higher profile, cannot chat with the press as much. The crowd lined up for pictures and autographs with the Gingrich’s as soon as the event concluded.
(Contrast that with the late July visit, when just two reporters -- from NBC News and the Los Angeles Times -- tagged along with Gingrich and his wife as they rode in the town's annual Nordic Feset Grand Parade. The former speaker held an impromptu and brief press conference afterward, with no mult box, lights, or campaign press secretary present.)
The former House Speaker is now polling very high in the first-in-the-nation caucus state -- a front-runner by some accounts. He may even win on Jan. 3. The campaign’s fundraising has improved drastically since the summer, although the campaign spokesperson said they would still post some debt at the end of this quarter.
After such a well-attended and somewhat organized event at Mabe’s, it’s hard to think just 21 short weeks ago, Gingrich was riding on the Winneshiek Country GOP float in a parade here, surrounded by floats with Vikings and Wizard of Oz dancers, in which few seemed to take notice a presidential candidate for president was even in the small Iowan town.
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I thought Gingrich would be on way to the Chocolate factory. He can argue there if he like R Kelly provbably won't mind. It'll go well with tiffanny treats
R.Kelly Chocolate Factory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeJMzLEjSUw,
Bev, too funny!
Amy B. Portland, ME
Bev, too funny!
Thanks
It sure is. I don't why it didn't open. Get a load of the cover. It looks just like Newt would having fun at the Chocolate Factory Newt can get as much Chocalate as wants on his face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeJMzLEjSUw
I'd be more interested in the Wizard of Oz characters too. Politicans are the least interesting people on the planet.
Amy B. Portland, ME
I'd be more interested in the Wizard of Oz characters too.
Or Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Newt does remind one of a Oompa Loompa.
Bev, as Amy said, that's funny!
From what I heard this morning, Newt's revisit has another common factor--his campaign debt keeps growing.
That's not chocolate all over Newt's Face!!
I wonder if Salamander Man will go back to that place in Iowa where that guy told him to get out of the race before he embarrasses himself?
Too bad Newt wasn't serious from the get go. Didn't he and his wife take a cruise not too long ago instead of - you know - making sure he was on the ballot in his own freakin' home state?
He's not going to win Iowa. He's not going to win anything.
Pat Boston MA.
Pat, Newt does plan to win. He's in it for the money to sell books and get honorariums lecturing his fake history.
Bevery, very funny and actually quite accurate at the same time. haha.
His candidacy is a sham, but he knows how to draw attention to himself. He's made a career out of it. But then, so hasn't Willard.
Pat Boston MA.
Too bad Newt wasn't serious from the get go. Didn't he and his wife take a cruise not too long ago instead of - you know - making sure he was on the ballot in his own freakin' home state?
He's banking on his bomb throwing abilities to make up grounds for the lost time.
PEN, that's exactly his strategy. All eyes are on him. Clock is winding down. This is the "Hail Mary" part of the election for Newtie in Iowa.
He has to just go for it. And if he scores? Boy oh boy won't that be something?!
I love the way the article claims he is polling "High" haven't they got the word that he is in THIRD Place and falling?
What is up with his wife's... bullet proof hair? ... is that one of Newt's budget cuts !
You mean 'helmut head' Calista?
Talk about a genuine stepford wife...
lol..When i first saw her i thought of that movie ..and thought any day the strand of pearls should appear. And 3 days later they were ..channeling her "inner Jackie O"
Jackie must be rolling over in her grave at Callista's attempts!
BTW, I do believe the current Mrs. Newtster's hair color is L'Oreal ultimate light blonde!
I thought she got her hairdo from the Jetsons.
Rell Ro, Rorrest!!! (My best Astro imitation)
And here i was thinking it was L'Oreal " Mistress Beige " ....silly me ...
Say it isn't so,
Well, maybe the mistress part............
"Washington's most immovably-coiffed mistress-turned-wife.'
"Yes, Callista is his third wife. Yes, she's 23 years younger than he, and yes, they began their relationship while he was still married."
"The impeccable, proto-Republican appearance Callista displays for campaign appearances (stiff, white-blond hair, simple skirt suits in bold colors) is not new, nor is it an act, several sources told Reuters's Kristina Cooke and Marcus Stern."
"She was always classy, always looked wonderful. She would even hold a beer bottle elegantly," a college professor remembered. Colleagues from Gingrich Productions confessed that Callista doesn't participate in the office's casual Friday."
Quotes from some ultra-liberal Newt-bashing blog? Nope - these are from Gingrich's OWN OFFICIAL WEBSITE!!! :
http://www.newt.org/callistas-canvas/no-casual-fridays-for-callista-gingrich
By the way, as you can see, Mrs. Gingrich's section of the website is called "Callista's Canvas".
Maybe that explains the hair? :)
Is her brother "Dark Helmet" from Spaceballs?
The schwartz on that guy!
Callista manages to make Cindy McCain look genuine--a real feat!
And she has also been referred to as " Miss Tight Ass" by x office staff !
Calista and her "Jane Jetson" hairdo!
Ha your exactly right, I should have read your post before I posted I could not remember Jane Jetson, I was thinking Judy Jetson.
“I will be the only Newt Gingrich on the ballot."
Well, except in Virginia, that is......
good point, JoAnne! Well, we all know the residents of Virginia are less influencial than the clientel of Mabe's pizza palace!
Amy -
According to their website, one of the specialties at Mabe's is their "Half-baked pizza".
I tell you, sometimes the punchlines just write themselves...... :)
JoAnne, Newt's very own "Oops" and his home state, too.
Unless I misunderstood last night, the only two GOPers to make the VA ballot are Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. If that's true, it will be an odd primary pitting the far right candidate against the flip flopper.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Talk about a genuine stepford wife...
Ughhh, can you imagine that doh faced floozy as First Lady? The thought of all the soils this Stepford wife has creeps me out!!!
What is it about nasty old men that attract younger, blond wives? In 2008, we had Cindy McCain and now it's Calista. At least Cindy could comb her hair! I just don't see what they see in those dirty old men!!!
Right Ursula?
I wonder, when was the last time a comb managed to penetrate it? lol
The plump, old, wrinkled, rich, white men sure know how to pick em...
Trophy wives (though perhaps the consolation prize...)
It must have been the Tiffany Gold card....what the heck does she see in him? Grouchy Old Man....
$$$$ is what they see in these dirty ole men.....LOL
Gold digging bimbos like power and money. I hope that answers your question.
Ursula-279622
What is it about nasty old men that attract younger, blond wives? In 2008, we had Cindy McCain and now it's Calista. At least Cindy could comb her hair! I just don't see what they see in those dirty old men!!!
Ursula,
Remember that story book line; it's not for you too see my dearie?
I think it was from Little Red Riding Hood. Come to think of it Callista 's hair looks like a riding hood.
I'm glad I don't see what they see.
It literally gives me the heebie-jeebies to think about having an extra-marital affair with either of those two old goats! Admittedly, John McCain was a bit more dashing as a young man, but both Newt and John have always been nasty bastards to their wives...s...s...s.
Them two are what I fondly refer to as coyote ugly!
That's when, you would rather chew off your own arm then wake em up in the morning...
Okay, the thought of a bare naked Newt just about caused me to "toss my cookies" As it is, I will be afraid to close my eyes to sleep tonight - fear of the nightmares this might cause!
The heebie-jeebies? Sounds scary what are those? Are they contagious?
Ursula, Fiesty, phinepharmcy--you women are such a great tag team! LMAO!
Is "Nutty Newt" still off his medications?? I wonder if his many doctors are still looking for him?? "Nutty Newt" has missed alot of group sessions, and his needed individual sessions. "Nutty Newt" is the intellectual, and official historian of the GOP Circus Show. Everyone wave goodbye to "Nutty Newt." The man who loves to puke!
Callista was in band?
I wonder what instrument she played.
The triangle of course.
The mouth organ... no doubt! ;o)
The Newt likes things in 3's.....three women, turned to wife and three churches, Lutheran, Baptist and now Catholic....
It's the threes........3's......3-3-3!
Happy Anniversary Feisty!
[Callista was in band? I wonder what instrument she played.]
Why, the skin flute, of course!
NAAAWWw guys (& ladies)
French Horn..... (the experts say to get the best sound you have to tickle it with the tongue just right)
I am the best straight line guy on First Read. I serve em' up high n' over the plate.
That you are ...GOPisextinct!
If the Newt hears of this, he willl challenge you to a Lincoln-Douglas style debate.
(drum rim shot) And the next person hits it out of the park.
If only Newt could reach the plate. (I heard his delivery is a little short)
Bring him on Chilled.
Except this will be a Godzilla / Custer debate. I'll pulverize him, and he'll get massacred!!
GOPisextinct......
You know how the Newster likes himself some history.....
He'll claim that the whole Custer thingy is invented.....Newt, the great truth teller knows everything about everything!
..........Except how to get on the ballot in Virginia
You'd indeed give him hell....
happy anniversary feisty!!
don't do nothing i wouldn't do.
;o)
Let us hope his current staff once again have the light of wisdom visited upon them and they follow the path taken by the former aides.