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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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NG is a joke in every way... as all the other so called Rep candidates are.... they are candy dates !
It is such a surprise to me that SO MANY states make it so hard to vote.
Oregon instituted vote by mail years ago with no fraud problems. Everyone who registered to vote gets a ballot in their mailbox and you can mail it in or drop it in a secure ballot collection station without postage. NO PROBLEMS!
Is Oregon REALLY that far ahead of every place else?
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
WA has the same thing. Vote by mail, not a problem, no fraud proven, even though the wingnuts from the right side always complain there is. They can't do any voter caging with mail in ballots, and that sure gets them mad. I'm sure they will be doing overtime to re-program the vote counting machines.
I've read articles that have stated fraud isn't a problem with the people who are actually voting, it's the vote counting where fraud comes in. All this rhetoric about voter fraud is just an attraction to take your eyes of the real problem. and to those that will screech, but people wrote Donald Duck on voter registration slips. It doesn't take an Einstein to know that Donald Duck will not be voting. The people who were registering others to vote wrote in the name to collect payment for registering voters. When the ridiculous name came up it was tossed. This is a no brainer.
Fraud occurs in the counting and losing of ballots. In other words, the politicians and their crooked buddies running the polls.
Given the aftermath of The Late Unpleasantness, a.k.a. The War of Northern Aggression, one would have thought that those of Southern orientation and location would have had no trouble recognizing a self-enriching and opportunistic carpetbagger. But then, being seduced by those who talk the talk but walk the walk only to get to the podium/pulpit is a too-frequent failing.
Newt's arm candy doesn't have any children. So is she also a slut and a whore for taking BC pills. She need to show all of her pre Newt sex tapes. Rush limpdick needs to view them.
That's the problem with the GOP if they don't win the nomination they won't vote at all.
Another 4 years for Dems.
Gingrich isn't voting in VA because he is not on the ballot.
But Gingrich is registered to vote in Virginia. How un-american of him not to exercise his right to vote. Isn't that what makes our country great? Just because he's not on the ballot, shouldn't he support our democracy by voting?
Listen to Rush and all the GOP & Teabaggerss Its all about the Wealthy getting richer and the middle class getting poorer.....They don't want to help the poor, I do mean the poor not the lazy good for nothings...Who are the one's that leach off the taxpayer. The Wealthy: they get welfare both for themselves an for the Corps. So really All party are at fault...But it seems that the Wealthy get away with it like the.(.Democrat )...They steal billions and the few poor steals a few thousands. So what does the GOP want, is Screw the MIddle Class to get even with the few. As I say its the me me me and F everyone else.... The failures of the Republicans party trying to take away SS & Medicare & Health care for Woman so they can give their wealthy Blackmailers more money...To hell with the Poor and Needy. Let them freeze in the winter and stave the Old and Babies,let them die from bad water, do away with the EPA and thats what you'll have, just like all you Teabaggers want...You make me sick with your Me Me Me altitude. It just a matter of time before the masses raise up against you . Greedy and you all call yourself Christians, Christains. What a laugh: Your no better than the Muslims you all hate. Wake up America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAKE UP!!! Dope head go get some more Oxy
Clearly, you have never listened to Rush. His main message is that of individual liberty. Do the research and you will find that he (and other conservative talk radio hosts) give enormous amounts to charity.
I truly feel sorry for you and the hate in your heart.
Rush Limbaugh's message of "individual liberty" is for himself and those like him. I listened to him for years and he has the same "fiscal liberty" at the expense of "social liberty" line as everyone else on the right.
He demonizes Democrats and Liberals every day...how is that doing anything to protect "individual liberty". He attacks gays, poor, middle class, protesters (who aren't his cause), women, minorities and even his own party when they aren't as rabid as he is.
He's a pitbull for the GOP and hype man the conservative base. Nothing more.
Since this is clearly off topic, what I have to say about Gingrich not voting...follow his lead Republicans! Stay home and pout on election day.
Bear Down: Gingrich isn't voting in VA because he isn't on the ballot. He isn't pouting. He is just not voting for someone he is currently running against.
Individual liberty trumps social liberty (whatever the heck that it) every single time. Without individual liberty, there is nothing else of importance.
Atta boy, Newt. Set a great example for everyone.
I honestly don't think Gingrich's priority ever was to be elected.
His goal is to remain viable enough to ensure future book sales and speech fees.
Look at all of the effort he is investing in Georgia compared to his lack of determination in even getting on the ballot in other states.
If he loses in Georgia, all of his credibility with his target audience is gone.
And his future income is what Newt is all about.
now this is news ; GIN - GRINCH will not vote in primary
Ha ha! So great to start the day with a good laugh! It would be even funnier if he didn't win Georgia, and thus couldn't win either of his home states. That probably won't happen though, Gingrich is a "good ole boy," and Republican party in this state is primarily made up of them. I think the race will be a lot closer than a lot of speculators think though...
Don't we all just wish Jimmy. But the Republican Party in Georgia has really been out there workin' it for their boy.
None of this matters. Newt is going NOWHERE. He's last century's news.
the only candidate acting presidential in this election campaign is president obama. all of the opposing candidates are cartoon characters compared to our president. thank you republican party for making the choice so easy.
You really can't make this stuff up.
A presidential candidate not voting.
The GOP candidates saying the quick TSA patdowns are intrusive but want to mandate trans-vaginal ultrasounds.
Santorum actually saying contraception is bad and a college degree makes you a snob.
Please get to October and put these buffoons to bed.
Newt is a joke and he's the front man for the "conservative" republican agenda and their new strategy....TO GO AFTER THE CATHOLIC VOTE.
Isn't it funny how they are in such denial convincing themselves that Obama is leading them into these issues. Pubes blame Obama over all of the media hype and contreversy over birth control vs. the Catholic church. It is the GOP's very fault that this is happening.
Does anyone think it is a coincidence that they have 2 catholic canididates? why all of a sudden two canidiates when in the history of the GOP they have never even nominated a single catholic? PLEASE EXPLAIN. I'm not inclinded to fall for coincidental arguments.
Secondly....... NEWT, Newt, Newt. He is the epitome of insider. He plays a major role in deciding how the party plans tpo move forward. Once again, any coincidence that Newt conveniently converted to Catholicism in early 2009, weeks after the Democrats schellacked the Pubes in the 2008 election???
All you republican zombies and evangelical numb nuts....... I'm sure Newt is a devoted Catholic and really takes his faith seriously. I can bet his tythe is very generous and is received promptly by the catholic church.
I found it also coincidental that, attending mass yesterday in catholic church, specific intent was made to focus the sermon on "life" issues along with numerous diatribes in the weekly news letter.
Pubes...... You are out of touch with mainstreem american values. This may have worked 30 years ago when there were ignorant and isolated people all over this country. Today, many of those old overs are noiw deceased, the internet and mobile technology has changed the landscape, there are more younger voters, much more informed and educated individuals that are much more capable of making informed decisions.
The world is not flat, it is older than 5000 years old. We don't believe in superstitious fairy tales and are not frightened by the fire and brimstone rhetoric like previous generations.
This is not an issue of religion, as much as some of the Republican candidates might want to make it that way.
Neither is it a war against those of faith,including the Catholic faith.
If that were the case there would be many in the Democratic Party who would be stepping off of that train,including me.
The issue is one of separation of church and state,something everyone can buy into.
Yep Kathryn. That's it. The state needs to stay out of the church. The state cannot tell a church (or any one else for that matter) what it has to provide. It was the Obama administration who started this so called war. When they saw that it was backfiring, they decided to create the straw man argument of contraception - or weren't you paying attention when George Stefanopolis spent 20 minutes on it during a debate?
Go USA - Obama didn't need to create a straw man - the real issue was already out there and that was created by elements in the Republican Party. The list seems to grow daily. I do not believe these actions represent the traditional core of the Republican Party (which my husband is one),but they haven't stopped it either:
Rep.Wayne Christian said,"Well,of course, it's war on birth control and abortions and everything. That's what family planning is suppose to be about."
Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania - proposed new GOP bill to allow hospitals to refuse to provide an abortion even when the procedure is necessary to save women's lives.
GA bill - to redefine victims of rape,stalking, and domestic violence as "accusers" instead of victims of abuse
Wendy Rogers - Women should not have an abortion even to prevent the unfortunate death of the mother.
Thomas White - Baptist Theological Seminary - declared use of birth control pills is murder of a life
Mitt Romney - "I hope to reclassify the most commonly used forms of contraceptives as abortions."
House Rep. Chris Smith proposes legislation that would redefine rape to "forcible rape" must be proven
Maryland schoolboard -cut funding for HeadStart because, as two republican commissioners said -women should be married and home with their kids so the program would be unnecessary.
Santorum has said states have the right to outlaw contraceptives.
2010 -Republicans voted unanimously against the Paycheck Fairness Act (which would ensure women equal pay)
For the first time since it was enacted, the vote was down party lines - Republicans voted against reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
WI Republican Senator Glenn Grothman proposes bill that labels single parenthood as child abuse.
And this real issue is going to cost the Republicans votes in November. A large percentage of the faithful are women, and they will not want to see their rights taken away - and there is a real movement to try and do just that.
Katheryn- Great post!
If Newt and his current mistress-wife-of-the-month don't vote, he won't get any votes, and neither will Mitt Romney....
I heard... That since Pewt is an old person, they assumed he would be voting Democratic and refused his registration because he didn't bring his "Voter I.D." card!
With Romney as the presumptive front-runner, why not encourage his supporters to vote for Paul in VA to steal a state from Romney?
Let’s See
They both should go there and present their Voter ID, after showing their birth certificates, gun licenses, professional or driver’s license, or GOP card, the title to their home, the title(s) to their autos, and ten years bills from the electric, gas, phone, water, sewer, property taxes, country taxes, state taxes and any up to date dog/pet licenses, and their grade school, high school, and college transcripts and any post graduate submissions. Then following the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, recite the party’s talking points, and the first few phrases of God Bless America, identify Mom as their favorite person, Apple pie as favorite food, and the promise of $2.50 /gallon fuel, then verification of no criminal record, and are not on the do not fly list, and the perfunctory derision of religions other than their own.
Then both of them should try to vote, on entering the voting booth, discover that write in votes are allowed.
Then when the votes are counted to see that he has got 0, 1, or 2 votes.
Zero votes makes sense, since they could not blame themselves, 1 vote show some martial problem, and 2 votes would show that they voted for themselves, not entirely unexpected and that no one else voted for them either.
God bless Newt the savior of his country for himself and his furry friends.
the republican candidates should all be awarded the ''red herring award''-------they have managed to deflect attention away from the main issues most americans care about to obsessing on gay marriage / birth control pills /food stamps / etc. americans care about the rich paying their fair share of taxes/ the unemployment rate /home foreclosures /education of their children / the national debt tripled by unjust wars and on and on. they drag out long forgotten b list tv /movie actors to denounce anyone not goose stepping to their moral agenda. the republican party has members with qualifications that outshine any of these drones they are putting forth as presidential material but they are busy on wall street making obscene amounts of money and busy on rodeo drive spending it on lavish designer stuff. and finally i will not tolerate their grandstanding and their audacity to preach to me from their undeserved moral high ground. when germany was suffering from econmic troubles hitler united them by giving them someone to hate-he claimed the jews had all the money and were ruining ithe country. he told this outrageous lie loud and often. the republicans are taking a page from hilter and trying to unite people against gays / poor people / people who need health care assistance/ women ---------but oddly not a word about haliburton --not a word about their wars. hypocrites---oh just stop me----! i'm way past outrage at their tactics-----obama for president!
"If you're not a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative when you're 40, you have no brain."
~ Winston Churchill
"Madame, in the morning I will be sober, but you will still be ugly."
- also Winston Churchill