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Subscribe to RSSNewt Gingrich's bid for the White House seems to have hit a rough patch, financially speaking. The 2012 candidate and former house speaker is laying off roughly a third of his campaign staff, is replacing his campaign manager and cutting back on travel. The Morning Joe panel discusses.
WASHINGTON, DC — Newt Gingrich's campaign is laying off a third of its paid staff, replacing its campaign manager, and lightening the campaign schedule as he continues with poor finishes in elections and is receiving little incoming money for his campaign.
“The campaign is being redesigned to focus on Tampa,” campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond told NBC News.
News of the cutbacks were first reported by Politico Tuesday evening.
Michael Krull, an Iowan and college friend of Gingrich’s wife, Callista, who took over as campaign manager shortly after most of Gingrich’s original staff ditched him last summer, agreed to resign his position last weekend. Now, Vince Haley, the current deputy campaign manager and policy director, will assume the role.
Hammond refused to comment on what other staff were let go, saying “he will not discuss personnel matters.”
Gingrich’s campaign has been struggling to stay afloat financially for several weeks — posting slightly more debt than cash on hand in the last FEC filing for February. The former House Speaker, though, continues to promise he will go all the way to the Republican convention in Tampa this August unless another candidate obtains all 1,144 delegates beforehand.
Asked earlier today while campaigning in Maryland if he realistically has enough money to last him until the summer, Gingrich said he does.
“The money is very tight obviously,” he told reporters outside the state house.
The speaker even alluded to this apparent staff shake up, as well.
When asked by reporter in Annapolis this morning if he was asking his staff to take pay cuts, Gingrich said: “Well we're working through what it is going to take to get there [to the convention] and I think probably Joe DeSantis or R.C. will have something to say about that in the next day or two.”
Gingrich typically holds anywhere from three to five public campaign events a day but on Wednesday, Gingrich only has one public event scheduled in Washington, D.C. This trend will continue for the campaign as they begin to lighten the number of events.
Communications director Joe DeSantis tells NBC News as far as cutting back travel, “You will see Newt spend longer stretches of time in key states rather than bouncing from state to state.”
The speaker was originally scheduled to spend Wednesday in North Carolina but then cancelled the trip just yesterday.
These shakeups will undoubtedly increase speculation and calls for Gingrich to exit the GOP race. He has only won two states — his home state of Georgia and South Carolina — and is trailing both Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in the delegate count.
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Newt needs a two more weeks of campaigning to complete the last chapter of his bio;
"Fundamentally Going Rouge"
Going, going, gone!
Yeah, Newt, it's your staffs fault that you come across as such a jerk! I figured as soon as he would have to start using his own money, the campaign would come to an end. Callista looks like she is pretty financially demanding. You now have enough publicity to write a book about how you been wronged, nobody understands your moon colony and you can refill your coffers and dance off to Tiffanys. Buh-bye.
From the looks of Calista it looks like Newt has already walked off with the taxpayer's money for Calista.
Well dang. 10 am and this is the only political news worth reporting on? I guess the SCOTUS's hearings involving one of the biggest landmark decisions in our generation isn't worth reporting, so says MSNBC. Gotta love it. If it had gone well for the left yesterday, it would have been splashed all over the news, but, true to form, the liberal biased machine has come to a halt. True colors are definitely shining. Whatever happened to responsible news reporting? Guess Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley were the end of it. Makes one feel a need to find out whats going on by going to another site where say, fair and balanced news is reported. You know, that site where both sides have mostly civil exchanges and discuss the important matters and regardless of your political persuassion your voice is heard. Thats what fair and "balanced" is suppose to be.
I didn't know PBS had a news site.
That's odd. I saw all sorts of reporting on yesterday's arguments before the courts: on line, in the newspaper, on tv (even on the evil liberal channels). Maybe there's nothing on today's arguments because they haven't started yet.
I certainly hope you are not suggesting (although I am sure you are) that Fox News is "fair and balanced". The only thing balanced about Fox is how they are united in attacking the President.
Here's a typical "fair and balanced" exchange on Fox. Take the afternoon show "The Five". Four conservatives and one liberal. The four conservatives take turns bashing the liberal and interupting him when he tries to speak. Give him some credit though. He tries to give it back, but its kind of tough with 4 on 1. Here's an idea: to be truly fair and balanced, start a new show with 4 liberals and 1 conservative. That should be fun.
@david......Odd? Sure is. You are in total denial if you can't admit had this gone well for your loved ones, everyone on staff would be spewing their take on how encouraging it looks for Obamacare but, since its not looking so good, well............And btw, I'll go one step further. I'm not "suggesting" Fox news is fair and balanced, I'm telling you it is. I spend equal amounts of time on your favorite source of news sites as I do Fox. I like to see everyone's side, unlike some who seek only one side. I will agree that Fox news is anti-Obama, but in return, do you have it in you to admit that they are just one, while your CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, Huff, LA Times, shall I go on? Are on an all out campaign to destroy anyone who dares to have a different opinion, represent a different approach to issues that affect anyone or anything? There are much better people on the right who could be running for office but the meatgrinder the left puts them and their families through does not make it tempting to do so. Thats a fact. The vitriol exhibited from the left is unbelievable. While the right has a small voice to try to "balance" things, it is quickly silenced by the left and all their minions. I sure am glad I switched my political standing to that of an Independent. I use to be a die hard liberal but these past 3 1/2 years have opened my eyes to reality and the more I dig in and watch both sides implode, the more grateful I am that I have chosen to vote my conscience, not just straight party line and ideology. I vote for the candidate that best represents what is going to sensibly and resposibly benefit my Family, my community, my state and my country. The direction we are headed is a perilous one at best. If we don't start coming together and stop this divisive direction, we are doomed.
Uh, David.......I believe that has been tried on CNN and MSNBC. Do you remember Juan Williams? He is a Liberal, now employed by Fox, after CNN "let him go". I admire Juan and enjoy his view of things. I don't always agree with him, but his view is allowed and repected on Fox. Then theres this fella named Pat Buchanan (sp?). A long time voice on MSNBC but let go because of something he said in a book (nice excuse). Oh, what about "THE VIEW?" Now there you have One each conservative voice surrounded by some screaming Liberals, and poor Elizabeth keeps on plugging away. Fox news has several paid, on staff contributors that r are Liberals. Does CNN or anyone else do that? Look at your boy Ed Schultz, Bill Maher (yuk). Total hypocrasy on the lefts part. Maybe if you would take the time to look at the the news from different perspectives, you might be enlightened, but if you stick with your one-sided source, you will see it from only one perspective. Seems kinda irresponsible to bash someone elses opinion if you only gather your info from one source.
Pack it NEWT....the goal of you being the President is and was only a dream....just retire, write a book, do a couple of talk shows, and fade into the political black hole.
Newt's corruption in politics is what makes him so funny that he has gotten away with it sooooo long.
Have you ever noticed Calista's hair NEVER moves. Always the same style. Personally I think it's a helmet. I've always felt she wants to be first lady more than Newt wants to be president.
Calista is just like a Barbie Doll and Newt has her in his hands and does the talking for her.
There was a one or two week period when Newt's numbers were up, but now it's obvious his number is up.
Haha, good to see he's maintaining his stance on creating jobs instead of... oh... wait.. :)
Where is the REPUBLICAN PARTY creating jobs now? Oh, overseas in China.
I would want to know exactly who can corroborate the "recent break-ins" inside the gated community. Seems none of that has been brought to light. Zimmerman, if you're so sure you acted lawfully, why are you in hiding? I listened to 8 911 calls. In a few of them a lot of screams for help could be heard, it does not sound like a 28 year old man, it sounds like a kid screaming in terror for help. I also listened to a broke down version of the racial slur, courtesy of CNN, and one of the best experts in the audio field, you can clearly hear what Zimmerman calls him, and he is told in regards to following him "you do not need to do that".
To paraphrase, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Greed, Greed, Greed" is the REPUBLICAN PARTY'S campaign slogan.
Isn't it about time for Callista to join ex-Mrs Gingrich club?
It would be best if Calistra started her own campaign and run on the Barbie Doll platform.
Newt, Newt, Newt..........all you're doing is staying in the media for a bit longer. Than hasta la vista baby. Retire graciously somewhere, as you've had you walk in the sun. Don't go out as a complete ninny.
Newt, retire graciously somewhere. You've had your walk in the sun. Don't go out as a complete ninny.
Newt-ie will most likely fine warm and acceptable housing in places like the Argentine jungle after he is investigated.
Just Blame the "Elite Media" Pewt-phew-Grinch
Now fire yourself mr G and put it behind us. You are not presidential material sir.
Bye bye Newt. Go buy yourself and your wife some more jewelry to ease the pain.
It is over and even the egomanic Gingrich knows it. Never was a serious contender for any length of time.
Newt-ie, was so much fun to watch. No one could take him seriously. But, Mitt-ie will replace him.
Sorry, Mr. Gingrich...you gave it the old college try, but the nomination belongs to Romney, until you find a smoking gun in his closet somewhere...
Did Newt ever graduate from college? Romney may have brought his degree.
Just the get the hell out of the race already you fat bloated windbag. You stand no chance of winning and you're just stealing money from contributors too stupid to realize it's over. you unscrupulous piece of s@*t.
Newt should just pick up the soap because he is washed up. There is nothing to fear anyway the republican party is on the side of the road broken down and going nowhere. Obama has let it be known to all world leaders that he will be re-elected. So if your a republican and what to be on the winning side get an Obama sign and hold it with pride. Obama 2012
Time to quit you fat bloated pig along with the other hate spreading Repugs
America deserves four more years of Obama's left-wing politics and reverse discrimination. Maybe it will wake them up.
what, no more money coming in from Vegas?
Take the fork out of his hand and stick it in him....he's done.
Gingrich may stop campaigning as people are less willing to donate to his campaign, but there is no way he is going to quit until someone gets to 1144. Obviously, he hasn't won the 5 states to be a major contender by Republican rules for the official candidacy. However, he has enough delegates that he can put someone over the top if they offer him a VP ticket. He's not going to give up those delegates unless his life depends on it.
Off all the Republican candidates Gingrich knows how to play the political game the best. After all he was right at the forefront of when they created those same dirty games.
Romney is just banking on the idea that as the guy with the most delegates he'll get the nomination regardless of how many he gets in the end. The reality for him though is that there really are not a lot of people that actually like him. Sure, the establishment is coming out and saying that they are endorsing him because he is the 'Inevitable' candidate. However, how many of these people that are endorsing him are inviting him over for a backyard BBQ?
Gingrich will stop his campaigning simple because the American people do not believe in him.