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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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Newty Patooty - go back to being the highest paid Historian in U.S. History; $1 million from your "Fannie Friend".
Time for Newt to call it a day. He NEVER had a chance, anyway!!
Now, I can't wait to see the POTUS wipe the floor with Mitt. Only wacko-repubs will vote for a guy who drove to Canada with his dog on the roof of his car! What a foolish idea!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Newt is yesterday politician. It is time for him to step aside to give way... It is time to pack his ego and go home. In his body, mind and soul he knows better than anybody else he is not going to win the nomination in Tampa. It is his egoistic mind wants him to persist. He quits now will save his ego face.
See ya Newt. If your ego wasn't so huge you could probably figure it out...your done.
OMG...Obama Must Go... in 2012
Newt is focused on Tampa. His campaign can only afford one ticket and 2 beers for opening day, but he hopes to mooch a few free burgers from tailgaters.
Maybe he plans on selling photos stuffing his face with a burger and drinking a beer? Anything is possible in his so called campaign! Wouldn't put it past him.
It's too bad, I wanted the man that hates everyone and everything to win the Repub nomination.
Everything except his ice-queen, of course.
I wanted it so he could be crushed for all to see.
Now that Cheney's has been removed, Newt's heart now reigns as the blackest.
So much for Newt being a "job creator" considering how many paid staffers he just fired!
Newt is last century's news. He's a has been, wanna-be, never was. Bill Clinton kicked his ass all over Washington and he was booted out by his own people.
The funniest thing was Bob Dole's reaction to whether or not Newt should be president. Hilarious. Must be tape of it somewhere.
its not about newt winning anymore..its about being the spoiler..he has enough delegates to be a spoiler at the end of these primary's...he has something up his sleeve or he would call it quits.
I hope that Rick(no respect for women) Santorum becomes the next invisible man along with Carl (the racist) Rove. Newt was really a phoney funny guy.
Newt, just ask Tyfannies to up your credit limit and use that money, you'll be fine!
I guess the name would be Loser!
Newt divorced his first or second wife because she wasn't First Lady material. He must be flipping knowing Calista didn't even get him in the nomination.
Give "The Newt" a break. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to put your socks on after your shoes?
I have to say. More than wanting Newt to go, I want Santorum to go.
That's Newt-speak for: "We're broke and nobody will give us anymore money."
newt is costing us more than 50 grand a day, yes 50 grand a day, in secret service expenses.
can we cut this expense that is no longer necessary. we don't expect newt to behave responsibly, do we?
Does Anyone out there think Newt was Ever a Contender??? (I mean.... besides besides Newt of course)
Newt and Callista went up the Hill
To make Newt a presidential scholar
But Newt fell down and broke his crown
Callista yelled, "Sit your ass down"!
But Newt stood up to make a speech
Callista yelled, No Newt, they'll likely impeach
And so off into the wild blue yonder they went
No money left and nothing to vent
The crook and his maiden put on a great show
They are headed for Ringley Brothers I know!
Uhh.... stick to Dr Seuss Sam I am. That was pretty bad, but it did make me laugh!
I figured his staff would divorce him, he just beat them to it. He changes staff like he changes religion and wives.
What a difference 2-months make.
On January 27th, Newt was the favorite to be the GOP candidate.
Now his party wants him to bail.
Buwahahahahahha!
On January 27th, Newt was the favorite to be the GOP candidate.
Newt was one of the flavors of the month along with Palin, Huckabee, Pawlenty, Trump,Bachmann, Perry and Pizza Man.
Newt forgot to speak in tongues and suck up to Big Jesus.
... because this is the only way to a colony on the moon. lol!
Newt?
Who's Newt Gingrich? Never heard of the Guy...
Is that the Governor from Texas or Alaska?
What do you call Newt that has become a Fly In the Ointment???
I don't know, but for $50 you can take a picture of it!
So much for Newts Moon Colony fantasy
Is Newt trying to raise money for the Moon Colony that leads to Nowhere?