AP:
First, Newt Gingrich said he would run for president in 2008 only if no other Republican emerged as a clear front-runner. Now, the former House speaker says he will run only as a “last resort.”
His assessment came in response to a question by Chris Wallace, host of “Fox News Sunday.”
Gingrich said he first hoped to influence the presidential race by providing candidates in both parties with his “solutions” to problems such as health care, energy, education, national security and immigration.
But he said that if it became necessary, he would run.
Well I’m not sure who in the Democratic Party would turn to Newt Gingrich for policy solutions on “health care, energy, education, national security and immigration.” So that basically leaves Newt to find his influence in the Republican field.
This certainly makes Gingrich’s co-authorship of an op-ed with Rudy Giuliani about the successes of Giuliani as mayor of New York City make sense. Gingrich is positioning himself to be an influence peddler and an advisor, not a candidate. I have to wonder what Gingrich hopes to get out of having the next president be a Republican cast in his mold. He doesn’t seem to be a likely vice presidential candidate, so I’d lean towards a cabinet position. His support of the escalation in the war in Iraq and long ties to the Israel lobby make me think that Newt wouldn’t mind being tapped as the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of State.
Of course, the “last resort” frame means that Gingrich has the narrative set for his late entry into the race. He can survey the field, see a lack of issue leadership and no clear front-runner, and step in with a saves the day attitude that wins over doctrinaire Republicans who aren’t happy with the tepidity of the field.
Gingrich is in position to enter the race and automatically be near the top tier of candidates, particularly if the Republican base and mainstream press forget his past ethics violations and marital infidelities.
Technorati Tags: Newt Gingrich
Something to say?
