Despite Gingrich’s poll rise, he still faces major obstacles…
Organization: “…he is scrambling madly to build the kind of organization that Mitt Romney has methodically put in place for a year, one that will let him compete through all 50 contests, often in multiple states at once.” -
New York Times
He lacks support in Congress: “Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said Sunday he would have difficulty supporting Newt Gingrich for president because of the way he wielded his leadership post nearly two decades ago in Congress.” -
Politico
…
contrary to conventional wisdom, could Gingrich actually be a more formidable candidate than Romney?
“…some Democratic strategists worry that the combative Gingrich presents some challenges for the Obama campaign that would not exist if Romney were the GOP candidate. … Gingrich could pursue a strategy that combines energizing the conservative base and chipping away Democratic support among Hispanics — an electoral formula that helped George W. Bush win in 2004.” -
Washington Post
…
the Romney camp certainly sees a grave threat
“The timing of Mr. Gingrich’s rise, just a month before the nomination voting starts, and his track record in national Republican politics make his a graver threat than earlier surges by Representative Michele Bachmann, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and Herman Cain. That’s clear from Mr. Romney’s allusions to Mr. Gingrich, a former House speaker, as a “lifelong politician,” an “insider” and a “lobbyist”” -
New York Times
“Mitt Romney’s campaign is revving up in the early primary and caucus states, especially in crucial New Hampshire, as fresh polling showed he could face a fight in all of them from a resurgent Newt Gingrich.” -
WSJ ($)
Latest polling: Gingrich up in Iowa; Romney’s lead in NH narrows -
CNN
But… “It is important to note, however, that Mr. Gingrich’s lead [in Iowa] is smaller than that of most candidates from past years. In the five prior cases where a candidate had a single-digit lead, he won twice but lost three times.” -
Nate Silver
The race begins - the campaign ad wars get going in Iowa
“Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who leads the Republican pack in the Hawkeye State, will release his first television ad Monday … Mitt Romney’s campaign announced last week that they would roll out their first advertisement, titled “The Right Answer,” in Iowa … Ron Paul… is pouring $429,000 in advertisements on broadcast and cable for two weeks … Perry’s most recent ad purchase totaled $89,000” -
ABC News
Gingrich rolling out first Iowa ads today -
New York Times
John McCain: The Hispanic vote is up for grabs in 2012
McCain John"The one-time Republican presidential hopeful, whose own 2008 candidacy was shaped in part by immigration, said that large Hispanic populations in his home state of Arizona and elsewhere are listening carefully to what Republican candidates have to say on immigration and could become a “major factor” in 2012." -
Fox News