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ATLANTA, GA -- Neither Newt Gingrich nor his wife, Callista, will cast votes Tuesday in their home state's Republican presidential primary.
NBC News has learned that the Gingriches have opted against voting in Virginia, one of the 11 states hosting primaries or caucuses on Super Tuesday.
“Newt and Callista are not casting a ballot in Virginia and they did not request an absentee one,” Gingrich campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond told NBC News.
Only Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are on the state’s ballot as the former House speaker failed to obtain enough required valid signatures for his name to appear on the Virginia ballot. Rick Santorum will also not appear on the ballot.
“In this Republican primary, when given a choice between Ron Paul and Mitt Romney, they could not pick either one,” Hammond said.
That creates the situation where Gingrich is favored to win the Super Tuesday contest taking place in his old home state -- Georgia -- but won't be voting in the Super Tuesday state where he currently lives and is registered to vote -- Virginia.
Still, if Gingrich fails to capture the Republican nomination, he would vote in the general election in Virginia, which is regarded as a toss-up state in November.
According to Hammond, the Gingriches would back whichever Republican gets through the primary season “because no one is worse than Barack Obama.”
The couple's decision to sit out the primary isn't just a pointed gesture toward Romney and Paul. Their vote would also conceivably remind voters of the fact that Gingrich makes his home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and has for quite some time. Gingrich has spent the better part of the past week focusing on winning a primary on Tuesday in Georgia, the state he represented in Congress for two decades.
Romney will return to Massachusetts, the state where he served as governor, to vote Tuesday in the Bay State's primary. His election night party is also in Boston.
Ironically, Romney is the favorite to win Virginia. He outpaced Paul by a wide margin in Sunday's NBC News/Marist poll.
Gingrich, along with Santorum and former presidential candidates Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, and Jon Huntsman filed a lawsuit against the state of Virginia months ago to include all candidates' names on the ballot. The effort, led by Gov. Perry, was unsuccessful. The legislature also never added any type of write-in capabilities to the ballot, forcing Virginians to choose only between the candidates whose names appear on the ballot.
The speaker said over the weekend as he campaigned in Ohio, he “had some problems in Virginia” but also noted his main focus on Super Tuesday has always been the state he represented in Congress for more than 20 years.
“I said all along that Georgia was the key because if we didn’t do well in Georgia I thought we could not go on,” Gingrich said Saturday in Bowling Green, OH.
But Virginia is a battleground state come November and failing to get on the ballot in such a crucial state for the general election could raise questions about the Gingrich campaign’s organization and ability to run nationwide. Obama won Virginia in 2008 but Republicans have said they hope to be successful there in 2012.
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Didn't realize they gave up voting for Lent. Thought it was only opinions and onions.
RedDevPS,
BEST post of the day!!!!!
You know what, just to support Newt & Callista, I am not going to vote in Virginia tomorrow either! Oh, wait, I couldn't anyways - I live in Florida. Nevermind. :)
They should have voted - for Ron Paul! Here in Ohio, I am in one of the districts Santorum did not get the signatures in. Both the Wife and I will vote for Rick for the State wide delegates and for Gingrich for the district you might say we are ABR for the primary and then ABO in November.
Attention other states - Do not elect the Republican King of Negativity for the Republican Nomination. He will have a hard time surviving the 10X he and his PACS are dishing out. Just wait until you receive 10 Robo calls from Romney & Company to each one from Gingrich and Santorum.
The Robo calls are almost always negative and half-truths - Instead of accepting this Crap - don't vote for the guy these ugly people are promoting.
NS-DFL - one day you an I must have an Irish coffee. A table at the Buena Vista in SF would be a day of merriment beyond.
Phine - one day, you and I must have a Cosmo moment. You tickle me pink!!
RedDev,
An Irish Coffee it is and I checked out Buena Vista online. Great cafe.And i always like a day of craic.
Funny how the republicans are changing voter I.D. laws all over the country(34 states?) but will not use them while they vote in primaries. What about voter fraud in primaries? Oh that's right, they only want to restrict voting on the poor, ederly, minorities(blacks) and students! Hey repubs do search on this phrase, "Newt Gingrich word list" See all the lists of words Newt sent out to republicans politicians and Fox to get republicans to follow like sheep! Did not send out a list of any programs or bills he wanted for jobs etc to help the economy, just wants words to control you and the media!....Ahahahahahaha
What would starsailing know about a Republican primary that would make me think anything you say is credible?
I support Newt decision not to vote for New Gringrich. Funny he cannot stomach himself either.
Everyone is complaining about the republican primaries and the candidates. But no one is looking at the fact that the democrats can't choose a candidate. They are forced to vote for Obama, like it or not.
They are brain washed to one person. They have no primaries to discover if any of the 43 million registered democrats are better than Obama. There is no discussion about his failures or inadequacies or who could do a better job.
There is no discussion about his Marxist Pastor Wright or his giving $500,000,000 to the Finnish Car Company to compete with G.M. Obama has no victories to brag about. Iraq was not set up with a pro western government and we are still mired in Afghanistan when he could have ordered a carpet bombing and gotten the hell out.
He still has no idea about Syria and Iran.
The U.S. is rudderless without a captain at the bridge. We are repeating the Costa Concordia disaster with an incompetent Captain Francesco Schettino (Obama) at the controls.
fajado, and you got all of those twisted facts from Murdoch's faux noise machine, right? Isn't it time for you to find a real life?
Gee, I wonder why Blingrich won't vote??
What an idiot! Real presidential caliber...............lol
Frankly True: Gingrich isn't voting in VA because he is not on the ballot. Would be sort of silly to vote for an opponent, don't you think?
My point exactly, this incompetent boob couldn't even get on the ballot!! Great organizational skills there, Newtie!!
This issue falls squarely into the category "Who Cares" ...................
I'm with the rest of the country ... get this disgraceful sorry a$$ race over ................
fajado - The Democrats don't need to have a primary this year. They selected their guy last year and he's already in the Big House.
Maybe the rest of the Gingrich supporters will decide not to vote too. Naw too good to be true.
left-handed
Forget Hillarity for 2012 or 1216, she's as divisive as Gingrich with just the same sort of nasty baggage.
Orb - For the Republicans maybe, but the Democrats and women might have a different view.(and the military brass seem to think they have a stalwart ally in Hillary)
Eye of Newt and his family are too ashamed of him to cast a vote for him, I guess. But don't worry. He will come up with some reason in which he blames Obama for not letting him and his family cast their vote. The Candidates(R) always use blame as their excuse.
Oops two less votes for Newt which means he won't get any. He and Calista would be expected to vote for the little lizzard man but now he won't get any votes.
He isn't on the ballot - do try to keep up.
But Go USA - you'd think he'd at least have had the foresight before running to change his residence and voter's registration back to GA so he could vote there. To be reduced to not casting a ballot at all because of a lack of forethought is a pretty sad commentary on the man.
who cares?
Newt and his wife probably don't have their photo ID to vote anyways. LMAO.
I believe Newt is taking the right road to not vote tomorrow.he hadn't signed in anyway. But this is saving him campaign money but most of all, he won't have to stand around while the 1st 2 idiots makes fools of them selves.
Instead he looks the fool for neither getting his paperwork submitted in time nor changing his residency and voter registration back to Georgia so he could vote somewhere.
I thought this would be a good test to find out if Gingrich was telling the truth that he would vote for any one of the others if they were nominated. but if he can't bring himself to vote for one of them now then he lied. he thinks he is the only one good enough that can bet obama. not the others. it don't matter if he votes or not Romney or Paul will win, not him. he is not on the Virgina ballot. but showing he supports the republican's did matter. he does not support them. he would probable vote for obama if he does not get the nomination.
@KEM63. That's not true. He's said in the past that he thought Santorum would be a good alternative to him. And before that, he said that Herman Cain would be a good president. And in this article, he admits that he will vote for Romney or Paul in the general election if they are nominated. You're not really being fair to Gingrich.
Why should KEM63 be any different than any other basher?
KEM63: Neither Romney or Paul is the nominee. There is no reason for Gingrich to vote for his opponents in the primary.
No voter ID? Cannot prove that they are citizens?
Poor NEWT couldn't get out of the CLOWN CAR in time to file his paper work.He and his fellow side show cast missed the filing dead line,at least NEWT had a reasonable excuse,after all he was busy finalizing state hood plans for that MOON COLONY he was going to settle by the end of his 2nd term.It's a shame after SUPER TUESDAY we can say GOODBYE to NEWT and his Plastic Doll.
Oh no,smoke - I suspect Newt will just hang on for as long as his sponsor's purse will allow it.
The new reality - even when they lose, they don't quit. (you'd have to have a modicum of integrity to do that)
How can anyone run for President and not have the paperwork ready in time for a primary?
Newt wants to run the country, but he can't even follow the rules or process of elections? Same goes for Santorum. I guess it took too much courage to get the paperwork in huh Rick?
Newt + Santorum = FAIL
...and then there were two!
What a pinhead. How can you consider voting for someone who can't make sure someone else gets the paperwork right?
From the article: "The speaker said over the weekend...he 'had some problems in Virginia..."
Sounds like Newt is seeing a bimbo named Virginia. I really don't want to know the nature of his "problems", though.
There seems to be a disturbing theme with Newt .. Virgina, Vaginal, Viagra, it all comes down to probing for what makes him tick .. or .. tock.
Sailcat I think Newt meant to say he "had problems with Viagra!"
I don't understand why if you felt you could run a whole country, why not show that you were organized enough to get your name filed in time for primaries? I don't get that...?
Keep this in mind, Newt:
If you DON'T VOTE, ESPECIALLY FOR YOURSELF, then I don't want to hear a damn thing on how you lost your home state to your GOP/TP Presidential rivals!!!
But then again, whatever causes the destruction of the GOP/TP, I'm ALL for it.
Kevin: Please do the research. Gingrich isn't on the VA ballot and there isn't a write in option.
Four years ago the shoe was on the other foot...
We are in situation where the best person qualified to be our president is not motivated to do so.
JonnotJohn...you are mistaken about Obama..he is running for second term! Why did you say he was not motivated to do so...?
That's great. I'm not planning on voting for newt either. ROFLMAO!
as usual you democrat morons can't read or comprehend what you read or hear. Alex Moe, in typical MSNBC style, distorts what is fact. Newt is going to vote in Georgia. He isn't going to vote in Virginia. All of your stupid comments reflect what a bunch of lemmings you are. Read what it says you dummies.
who gives a F...k what he is doing?
NOBODY.
BobbyG--well, I'm a Democrat, but I think not a moron. Here's what it says:
This means that Gingrich is registered to vote in Virginia, his home state. His old home state, Georgia, is where he is favored to win. It isn't where he is voting. Have a great day.
Bobby see it works like this, you must be a resident of a sate and registered to vote there to vote in that state's primary.
Newt is not a resident of Georgia, Not registered there so he cannot vote there.
Just because I lived in SC for 28 years does not mean I can vote there, I live in another state now and have done so for years.
How come the Mayor of Chicago did not live there but was able to run for mayor let alone vote? Oh yea, he is a Democrat so rules do not apply.
roger, real simple. They have a law there that more or less means if you maintain a residence, ie: home, in that state, and is in Federal service, you are still a registered voted there.
Don't you ever read anything Roger? Or just babble limpdicks BS.
"as usual you democrat morons can't read or comprehend what you read or hear. "
Yet another example of a conservative attempting to describe liberals yet winding up describing himself.
BobbyG,
When you're done giving yourself a visual self-polyp check (contemplate that for a moment) you might want to try reading the article. The couple's decision to sit out the primary isn't just a pointed gesture toward Romney and Paul. Their vote would also conceivably remind voters of the fact that Gingrich makes his home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and has for quite some time. Bobby they even attempted to use monosyllabic words so your intellect could consume it. And in case the terminology threw you, in this instance, to say someone decided to "sit out" something means they weren't going to do it. Engage in the activity. Participate. (Is any of this sinking in? Taking hold?) Wait, I've got it. The parallel statement might be "Bobby decided to (here come the phrase, just in a slightly different context) "sit out" his primary education. You should know this. But you didn't because all of that required you to (i) read and (ii) comprehend. And sorry, if you don't do (i) above, you really can't expect to be able to do (ii).
And in typical fashion, when you don't understand the situation or it's unfamiliar, you go off on a rant that you've probably memorized. "Democrat morons," "distort what is fact", "bunch of lemmings". Wait a minute! Where have I heard those phrases before? Oh, right (pun intended)! It's the current slate of Repugnican candidates' talking points.
You can have your own opinion. That's your right. But you can't have your own facts (or in this case a complete and utter lack of facts) and still spout off. That's just wrong.
@Frankly True North Dakota doesn't have voter registration.
Sorry BobbyG......Ok I think I got it now, he is going to vote for Georgia, that he had a problem with in Virginia with her vagina, and he needed to use Viagra for the problem.......
So here is where I do the Bill o'Reilly and Rush impersonation/slant on Newt. ...I don't want to pay for Newts viagra, If I have to pay for his viagra as a taxpayer...that makes Newt a..a.....gasp...prostitute. etc. etc.....
Oh dear gods. The very thought that Rush would make Newt and his wife Callista Flawlesshair release a sex tape because he takes a certain prescription...that horrifies me, body and soul.
Newt does not expect the Government to pay for his sex.
ramjet, want to bet? He's been on the taxpayers dime most of his life. Think he is going to change now? Wonder how his open marriage is going, and who she is getting on with?
What! A presidential candidate who's not going to vote! This guy is supposed to win Georgia. What a joke!
Only the sorry a$$ south will vote for the sorry a$$ed Blingrich...
I resent that NewtIsaPig! I even live in his state and I wouldn't vote for him!! Ugh!
Are people suppose to lose sleep over him(a pimp) and his home wrecking wife not voting?
How About Barney from Mass, he had a gay prostitute ring running from his home started by Barney's boyfriend.
Acorn, Obama's former employer, giving advice to Pimps on how to bring 14 year old illegal immigrant prostitutes from Mexico.
Gary Hart-- Homewrecker. Bill Clinton Homewrecker.
Roger your oxy is showing. None of what you said is true.
The guy has Class
Compared to any Democrat
Sure wished you had class. Seems like you may have skipped alot of classes while in school.
which guy? Certainly not Obama
How many of you support OWS?
Rape anyone lately like their staff member in NYC?
Steal from any Churches lately like NYC OWS did to 2 churches?
Urinate on crosses like OWS members in NYC did? Throw bibles at Police like OWS San Francisco? No different than burning a Koran.
Progressives are full of hate and bigotry
Hey Roger ur off ur meds again. Can't tell if u have more hate or more ignorance. Oh it's both.
"Progressives are full of hate and bigotry"
Whenever any of you conservatives attempt to describe a liberal, you end up describing conservatives ---- and you do this every time!!
ramjet, throwing and burning are 2 totally different things, the last time I checked.
CONServatives are the downfall of America.
The religious wrong in America want a holy war, nothing less. They hate anyone who won't bow to their false man made idols.
If any Dem didn't vote, the Goofy Old Party would be all over them. If Newt doesn't vote, he doesn't deserve to run for ANY office. The GOP want it their way, by breaking the laws, lying blatantly and just have run out of ideas.
A vote for the GOP in 2012 will get you higher unemployment, prolonged and much more costlier wars with Iran, Russia, China, N. Korea, Syria and whoever else they (gop) hate!
Newt's home state isn't Georgia! He's from Pennsylvania!!!! Just another Yankee gone South. He doesn't know where he's from, what religion he is and who he's married to..... This boy is sure messed up!
He's so messed up, he can't vote at all! What a President that would make... One that doesn't vote. If he's so proud of Georgia, why isn't he living there with Barbie?
Why in the hell is he competing in Georgia for? That is probably the only other state he will win. I wish the voters in Georgia would vote for Mitt Romney so we can get our minds off of the primaries!