tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post4818168767718586530..comments2024-03-26T05:22:08.256-04:00Comments on Frontloading HQ: Will the Tea Party Pull Extend to the 2012 GOP Nomination?Josh Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-49233294321284747282010-09-19T05:44:16.060-04:002010-09-19T05:44:16.060-04:00Agreed. Newt has one foot in each camp. However, a...Agreed. Newt has one foot in each camp. However, as that piece you referred to mentions, he makes bold statements that can get him in trouble in either camp. I suspect that most of his statements now will be for the Tea-Party faithful with a wink and a nod to the establishment. It remains to be seen how much establishment money he can amass.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379192575044761972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-49890556998356626192010-09-18T12:53:45.053-04:002010-09-18T12:53:45.053-04:00Rob,
I think this "bridging the gap" ang...Rob,<br />I think this "bridging the gap" angle is a necessary addition to this post. Thanks. I agree with you that Newt is well positioned to be that candidate.<br /><br />However, it should be noted that that is an extremely difficult balancing act to pull off. It is hard to be all things to all people. In politics you just have to be enough things to enough people to get by though.<br /><br />Already people are looking at that balancing act: http://www.gop12.com/2010/09/newt-positions-himself-as-outsider.htmlJosh Putnamhttp://frontloading.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-63828157554462787392010-09-18T11:26:46.961-04:002010-09-18T11:26:46.961-04:00Josh,
Interesting commentary. I agree that Mornin...Josh,<br /><br />Interesting commentary. I agree that Morning Joe is out to lunch on this one. I think much depends on how the 2010 election comes out and who can claim victory. If the Democrats lose the Senate, particularly with new Senators Angle, O'Donnell and Paul, the establishment will be on the run. At present Romney represents the next-guy-in-line establishment candidate with Palin the most obvious leader of the Tea Party Express, but I'm not sure either one is whom the party will turn to. I think the nominee will be the one who can bridge the gap between the establishment and the disenchanted. I think the establishment is very wary of DeMint. I still think the person best able to bridge that gap is Gingrich, but he has the unique ability to alienate both the establishment and the disenchanted. I am hearing rumblings that establishment money is getting behind Mitch Daniels. Nobody appears to be working harder to establish a grass-roots organization than Pawlenty unless it is Willard who doesn't need the establishment's money.<br /><br />At this point I still see an Obama-Gingrich race in 2012. I think the primary issue to Democrats will be Afghanistan. If troops are not starting to come home in July, 2011, someone like Feingold (whether he wins or loses this November) will give Obama a challenge. I also think, as I've stated before, that Obama wins the election if the unemployment rate drops below 8% and loses if it doesn't go below 8.5% by October 2012.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379192575044761972noreply@blogger.com