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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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Poor little Newt, he just can't get it through his head that he is of no relevance to the American public. He should just shut down the entire campaign and save the time and money. He could take his shekels and creep off into the sand dunes to hide out in a tent.
I love this article. This poor guy, what a sad state of affairs. Woops, did I say affairs. His candidacy has always been a book tour for him and Calista. Look at their "campaign stops". The last two were elementary schools signing her childrens book. Last time I checked three year olds didn't have the right to vote. But then with all the voter intimidation and laws changed to disenfranchise certain citizens in the Midwest maybe they can who knows?? Obamacare Rocks. Insure your family now before the Republicans take away your rights.
Obamacare rocks insure now - what a piece of work. Get your freebies quick. You know money really doesn't grow on tress right??
So Obamacare is free?
Wouldn't that be great if Gingrich was President and watching all the porn and political corruption that would leak from his office.
Now, people, you are looking at this all wrong. Newt has the right idea here. Just think, if we elect him as president and he axes 1/3 of the white house staff we will be on the right track to start stream-lining the bloated government and save some tax money.
Good job dude. Fire people while thousands are still out of work. Some President you will be.
Can't be any worse than the Welfare Prez in there now. Highest unemployment, highest deficit and highest number of folks on welfare. Newt should be the next V.P. at the very least.
Hay, to fire people is the REPUBLICAN way. After all, it might save him a buck or two.
And, better yet... he'll get his bonus. For every person a REPUBLICAN fires, get's ride of.... they'll get half of that person's pay added to their pay check.
There is no difference between Obama and Mitt? China is moving into first place, USA is going to need to cut the DOD budget to stay afloat. Once this happens the sharks will start moving in and the heavy set Americans will be a dot in the time line of history. A new union will be born from people with the real American spirit. The closed minded and the hate filled lagers will be left to plow rows for the new tenants.
Exactly why I stocked up on ammo.
That's a damn shame because I would've LOVED to see Newt debate Obama & wipe the floor with him. Seriously. And he wouldn't need teleprompters. And his wife Callista would be a much better first-lady than mean ol' big-hipped 'health conscious' burger & fries swallowing Michelle!
well you are right about one thing....Calista probably would be a better swallower...
btw - I know you teapublicans are simpletons and like to keep repeating old phrases....but have you ever seen a "teleprompter" at a debate - any debate?
b dune: Alot of us 'teapublicans' have our PhDs & are a helluva lot smarter than YOU!!!
So you have a PHD..I am really impressed...do you have that stamped on your forehead?
Even with a PHD you can't seem to answer a simple question posed to you....is that the effect of the PHD or just being a typical teapublican?
Calista's helmet hairdo. Where did she get that from? Concrete?
Buh-bye Newt. How can we miss you if you won't go away?
Newt- sorry but is time to fire the guy at the very top. You gotta know when to quit. The fat lady has sung, and you are the only one left in the hall.
No'p. Let's keep the comady show going.
File this one under,...things you do when you clearly have lost,...and have zero hope.
Gingrich was never "really" a contender.
Newt Gingrich is DONE!........he shot his gun........he had his fun......he had to run......he will be gone........oh what a bong!
Is Gingrich a "Right to Work" State?
The only reason he's sticking around should be pretty clear to everyone: Regardless of how it impact his party, he is SUCH a narcissist that he will stick around as long as the think the PR will benefit his personal bank account.
But most candidates would drop out by now. As long as the superpac still has money, he still advertises on the rushbo radio program. The campaign never dies. Funding never dries up. The campaign will go on forever. Even after the election is over. 24/7 for another 4 years.
Ha!! Ol' Newter is already putting people out of work, and I've got a better chance at being elected President than he does.
Newt, go back to Georgia and stay there!
I thought Newt was from Missouri? Maybe not. It's almost like he is running from the law or something.
Get the hell out you jerk! Take Romney with you.
Newt is pass-a and Romney will sink his own ship.
Does this mean Ellis is out of a job ? He was the only one who made sense !
Newt will just buy her a Tiffany's.
@Baddog40.. The oompa Lumpa, that is funny. I knew i saw him somewhere. lol.
But was it the original movie or the second?
Let's face it, Newt already knows he's done. He's just hanging around to make sure he spends all the campaign money he's gotten.
Newt Gingrich
He is reminiscent of the old SNL sketch "The thing that wouldn't leave."
Newt, that was the longest, most boring 15 minutes of fame since Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater pulled the emergency handle and slid down the emergency chute. Anyone see the similarities???
Newton! Dial 911 Adelson--Oh0 he is not answering his phone? Then get out, you are already a laughing stock!
Time for this pompous fathead to ride off into the sunset.
Amazing how much damage the Bush family has caused to the Republican Party. They must have push back the Party at least 20 years, maybe more.
The subpar performance of this group of Republican candidates in this presidential cycle clearly shows how disappointed even then Republican voters are in their Party. Low turnout, split vote, candidates dropping off because a show of incompetence, candidates dropping off because they mistaken this process to a beauty contest and fielding the "office fool" as a candidate.
Not only have this bunch of clowns shown that they are not qualified to be President of the United States, they clearly demonstrated they are not even in the same class as President Obama.
It is clear by now to all Americans that President Obama will get his second term and hopefully his second chance to get is agenda through. As it should be the responsibility falls squarely on the citizens of this great country to give President Obama a responsible Congress to help him govern instead of impeding him to give Americans what they mandated him back in 2008. My follow Americans, please do not vote for your Party, vote for the best candidate in your district.
We don't need another war, another economic collapse and more begging for Arab oil. We need a clean economy, affordable healthcare for all, a strong coalition to the take care of our global military responsibilities and we a decent leader of sound mind and moral values in the White House.
Give President Obama his destined legacy.
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And yes, it is still very much about the Bush's and Republican Party record. How they literately self destructed and took a lot of American casualties with them.
Two unpaid wars, including one war of convenience to comply with the Saudi King's request to take out Saddam.
Deregulated the banking system to collapse.
Gave billions of dollars back to their handlers, the corporate executives, on the backs of the middle class.
Turning their back on the poor and people who do not look like them with no healthcare and future.
Make a good hard read on the Republican platform and translate that to real deeds and priorities that are not included.
Yes, it is still an accounting on the Bush's failed presidency, which we will be paying for a long, long time.
It is time to change direction back into the real world and President Obama is the only one on the ballot with a sound mind that gets it.
Well, the Newtie has tried everything, new wife, new threats...but still same ole stuff, I'm God, Nobody but me, everyone else is infferior - if this POS would fire his ego and then get a wife who looks less like the Witch of the West, he might have a chance to win as dog catcher.