The night the GOP elite said ‘enough’ to the tea party
Thoughts on tonight’s election in Florida:
– There’s no doubt but that Newt Gingrich will lose tonight. But the second biggest loser may be the tea party movement. It was in Florida that the GOP “establishment” – the definition will change according to the Republican at hand – said this far, but no further.
The crowd of old-hands that came out to endorse Mitt Romney and damn Newt Gingrich was extraordinary. John McCain, Bob Dole, Elliot Abrams – the list goes on. But perhaps even more significant is the diminution of the influence of the major voices of the tea party movement.
A snapshot of a deflated Newt Gingrich party in Orlando, by my AJC colleague Daniel Malloy
There is that late endorsement of favorite Herman Cain, of course. And Mark Levin. More important is the lack of punch carried by Sarah Palin, who 18 months ago could take credit for swaying gubernatorial elections, including here in Georgia. Here’s a portion of what the former governor of Alaska posted on Facebook over the weekend, urging Floridians to vote for Gingrich as a means of extending the GOP contest:
”Newt is an imperfect vessel for Tea Party support, but in South Carolina the Tea Party chose to get behind him instead of the old guard’s choice. In response, the GOP establishment voices denounced South Carolinian voters with the same vitriol we usually see from the left when they spew hatred at everyday Americans “bitterly clinging” to their faith and their Second Amendment rights.
“The Tea Party was once again told to sit down and shut up and listen to the “wisdom” of their betters. We were reminded of the litany of Tea Party endorsed candidates in 2010 who didn’t win. Well, here’s a little newsflash to the establishment: without the Tea Party there would have been no historic 2010 victory at all.
But an unending contest isn’t in the rest of a party that faces a President Barack Obama who remains potent despite a struggling economy. The “GOP establishment” indeed learned its lesson in South Carolina. It increased its effort by four or five-fold. Maybe more.
– Exit poll data is limited (all will be cut loose at 8 p.m. EST) but one figure out that’s important: 45 percent of those voting said “electability” was the most important quality they were looking for in a candidate.
– Another important number for the night: White evangelicals went for Newt Gingrich, according to exit polls, but only by 39 percent to 36 percent.
– Gingrich’s real problem in Florida: Women preferred the once-married Romney by 51 percent to the thrice-married Gingrich, at 29 percent.
–The first, best exit-poll summary comes from the New York Times. Check it out here. One of Gingrich’s bright spots: He had the support of 43 percent of those who identified themselves as “very conservative.”
– Reposted from earlier today: Juiced by super PACs, this year’s presidential contest has seen a 1600 percent increase in interest-group sponsored TV ads over 2008, according to a study by the Wesleyan Media Project of Middleton, Conn.
Consider the following:
Even though Romney has not been on the airwaves as much as he was in 2008, his campaign and its allies have dominated the airwaves in Florida, airing almost 13,000 ads on broadcast television across the state, as of Wednesday, the 25th…[Newt] Gingrich and his interest-group allies have aired only about 200 spots, with [Ron]Paul and [Rick] Santorum out of the broadcast television game.
That’s a 65:1 ratio. Twenty percent might be pretty good for Gingrich tonight.
– In the morning, these are the Florida counties that I’ll be looking at: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsen, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, and Wakulla. They make up the greatest part of the Florida Panhandle, which demographically is more like Georgia than any other part of the Sunshine state. If Mitt Romney posts extraordinarily big numbers in these counties, he’ll have an incentive to bring a large effort to Georgia on Super Tuesday. The last thing that Gingrich wants to do is spend a large part of his treasure in a state that should be a freebie, based on his long tenure here as a member of Congress.
Right now, Escambia County, the western-most in Florida, is edging toward Romney.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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100 comments Add your comment
Going Right
January 31st, 2012
11:30 pm
Honested (haha, what a joke)
Yes, I’m headed that way now. Nighty, Night leftie.
honested
January 31st, 2012
11:30 pm
Going Wrong
So I guess (from your florid extended bio) that you oppose ending the failed experiment known as ’special treatment for capital gains’.
Over a million, 40%, it doesn’t matter how you got it.
Honest
Ted
January 31st, 2012
11:31 pm
This tea party guy is for Romney. It takes a business guy to save money. He is our only hope, I think. Newt has soiled himself.
Home School Drop Out
January 31st, 2012
11:33 pm
The Republicans want a CONSERVATIVE for President.
If NEWT wins; it will be the First time we have a SWINGER in the White House!
Martin Williams
January 31st, 2012
11:34 pm
Newt if you and any of your staffers is reading this, then it is good news for you. Newt, you getting exactly the negative words you thought GOP candidates to used on their opponents in 90s. Now you are getting it not even from an opponent but another GOP candidate. If you think the folks in Florida are dumm as the people in South Caroline, you seen nothing yet. We know your millioner friends will get all their millions back through those tax loop holes created for rich suckers like you. Also having Callista on your side is true disaster. You all better get used to the food stamp president till 2016 per Newt.
luangtom
January 31st, 2012
11:43 pm
If the fat-lady is singing already, just why is GA and the rest of the country getting ebbed up for “Super Tuesday”? According to the media, locally and nationally, Romney has all but won the nomination and will run against Obama in November. So, why are dollars being spent on Super Tuesday by states, parties and candidates? I cannot figure out the evolution of our national politics.
Ok I'll play along
February 1st, 2012
12:13 am
why does everyone get lathered up over politics and party affiliations? Both parties are one in the same. heck, many of the “adversaries” sit on the same boards. many have their kids attend the same schools and many share vacation homes around the world. they don’t have any particular party they are connected to. ask Leiberman, Spector and even Zell. there used to be dixiecrats but all that changed when “repubs” moved south. calm down, neither side has the working man’s interest in mind. exactly what will the repubs do that the dems aren’t doing? surely you’re not saying mcain /palin would have us full steam ahead with jobs etc. each party gets to the top spot and has to “pay” back whoever got them there. “w” did it, clinton did it, they all do it. stop acting like you’re new to the game. “if blacks and whites didn’t argue the most, they could clearly see the government is screwing them both.”
mike
February 1st, 2012
12:59 am
The tea party was hoodwinked, bamboozled and fooled. You goobers have the same people you were so eager to replace. While you folks were out there carrying those disrespectful signs of the President and acting ignorant in those town hall meetings, the old gangsters of the GOP walked right in and took your control. The sad thing is the distraction the old guard threw in your face. Palin, Newt. Herman, ODonnell, Perry etc. All a bunch of people with ethical and moral issues. You can go home now and count your guns, practice wearing those white sheets and maybe give Joe the plumber a call to see if he ever paid his child support or got his plumbing license.
Romney takes Tea Party vote from…
February 1st, 2012
1:00 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Gman
February 1st, 2012
2:11 am
Poor Newt… I guess his wife won’t be the First Ho after all!
Romney takes Tea Party vote from Gingrich…
February 1st, 2012
2:43 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Say What??
February 1st, 2012
4:21 am
The Tea Party, not even a party, said stop the out of control spending. Again, California is showing the way. Of course, I guess the Krugman types here think we can borrow/print our way out of the fiscal tsunami heading our way. Good luck with that one…..ask the Greeks how they feel about their current options from following this path…….
zeke
February 1st, 2012
4:24 am
what a drubbing? can’t wait for td to respond.
Z
February 1st, 2012
5:23 am
The Tea Party was taken over by the fringe of the republican party, you know, the wacky religious pro life crowd, the I hate taxes, any taxes crowd, and the gun crowd..oh and the totally I don’t know what the heck is going on crowd but think I’ll jump in anyway. Those groups were always on the edge of the Republican party but were kept at a distance. Then because of the mess the last administration left, the fringe Tea Parties made their move, got a foot hold, and over powered the moderates(are there any left) in the Republican Party. The Republican party has been fractured because of the Tea Party and will continue in that mold until the Grand Old Party comes to its senses. Hopefully this will happen in the coming election when we the people vote out those Obstructionist Tea Party members in congress.
Attack Dog
February 1st, 2012
5:54 am
Both “Parties” are not the same, but the Dixiecrats have remained constant. Just review the GOP non-debates and non-issue oriented attack ads, and then some pretend that everything is caused by Liberals and George Soros, until you turn back the curtain and see the Wizards of Koch, etal.
WORKING STIFF
February 1st, 2012
6:42 am
I just hope Neuter sticks to his word and does not start slinging mud. Maybe he will keep this BLOOD BATH going to give OUR PRESIDENT more ammo for the general election. 4 MORE YEARS
Mikey
February 1st, 2012
6:45 am
Though I am nowhere near a Tea Party type, from a strategic viewpoint, they really did blow it by not coalescing on someone to oppose Romney. Palin is sort of endorsing Newt these days (though even now she is not fully committing in a pitiful attempt to keep her options open) and Cain had a chance to endorse Newt strongly when he left the race, but tried to idiotically keep his own 9-9-9 campaign going instead. Had they and other ultra-conservatives gotten behind Newt I think he could gone toe-to-toe in Florida and have the money to compete.
Ga Values...Ron Paul for Peace & Prosperity
February 1st, 2012
6:53 am
Srupid me.. I thought that Newt was owned by that rich Jew & the radical right religous groups mot the tea party.
best post ever
Poor Newt… I guess his wife won’t be the First Ho after all!
Ga Values...Ron Paul for Peace & Prosperity
February 1st, 2012
6:56 am
too early to spell check
Stupid me.. I thought that Newt was owned by that rich Jew & the radical right religous groups not the tea party.
best post ever
Poor Newt… I guess his wife won’t be the First Ho after all!
Rightwing
February 1st, 2012
7:11 am
Heavy on the spewing… light on actual facts… as always from the wingnuts. At leat they’re consistent…
Edward Ruffin
February 1st, 2012
7:19 am
Hey folks, it’s a ways down the road before this thing is over. If Socialist Party B (Reps) decides to run a liberal against Socialist Party A (dems) then it’s the people who lose. If Socialist Party B nominates a neo-con then may be, just may be, we can prolong the eventual destruction of the country.
Ronnie Raygun
February 1st, 2012
7:22 am
“Newt is a liar who has taken both sides of nearly every issue.”
And how is this any different from Willard?
Proud American
February 1st, 2012
8:21 am
This country is in trouble when so called evangelicals thinks that it is ok that a mistress(Calista Gingrich), (Newt’s mistress) should be the first lady of the White House. The so called evangelicals should have been the first ones to say “no way”, we do not want this cheater, womanizer and liar, Newt Gingrich in the White House. But what did they do, they endorsed this behavior. Sad commentary. SAD.
Independent voter
February 1st, 2012
8:21 am
Romney is such a flip flop and moderate liberal. Romney going to lie about everything I just dont trust him.
The teaparty is awful they going to make Newt and Romney lose some of the Independent votes.
Proud American
February 1st, 2012
8:31 am
Newt Gingrich needs to see a Therapist with all of the hate and evil things that have come out of his mouth and from him during his campaign. It is obvious that this man has issues. Maybe this is why he has cheated on every woman that he promise to love. My cousin works for the Southern Company and they had a conference a few years ago. My cousin attended the conference in which Newt Gingrich was also attending. My cousin said that Newt was drunk as a skunk and making passes at the majority of the women attending. Newt thinks that every woman wants him.
James
February 1st, 2012
8:32 am
Another ignorant column from Galloway that follows a narrative but not the facts. How does this guy keep his job?
One day, the AJC will decide that it’s important to employ columnists who actually think and enaged, not just to follow the talking points of their partisan narrative. Next time someone writes a column complaining about the partisan divide in this country, remember that our media has led the way parroting their narratives and angling for advantage.
JJohns
February 1st, 2012
8:33 am
you got that all wrong; sounds like a put down
red herring
February 1st, 2012
8:44 am
the tea party will not go away but will increase— florida is a tea party state (marco rubio would have won by a landslide down there if he had been in the mix. this is just more lame stream media trying to discount what will become a large factor in the GOP party or will become a 3rd party eventually. most people are fed up with washington out of control spending and the rape of their pay checks.
Buzz G
February 1st, 2012
8:51 am
Long live the Tea Party.
Snuff out the RINOs.
Slip
February 1st, 2012
8:52 am
Good for you GR,
Hard work sometimes pays off and there should be great reward. There can’t be, however, a multimillion dollar business sale for every person in the US no matter how hard they work. The question you ask, how much should you give to be ‘fair’? Well a good measure of that would be enough to make sure that the number of people below the poverty line doesn’t grow and enough to insure that the 1% grows not just the wallets of the existing 1%. The American dream is that people can hope to achieve what you achieved and that is just not happening when people who already made it (and maybe that’s not you) keep taking bigger and bigger pieces of the pie. I’m not and never will be a socialist, but I sure want to know that my children have opportunity.
I won’t bore you with the entrepeneurial exploits of my successful family, but please don’t call me names.
Proud American
February 1st, 2012
8:52 am
Newt can’t heal this country until he get some healing for himself. There is obviously some personal issues going on with Newt Gingrich.
Slip
February 1st, 2012
8:57 am
‘personal issues’ … with Newt..’ Try that old Waylon Jennings song, “Lonesome, ORnry and Mean
deegee
February 1st, 2012
9:00 am
I caught the last half of Newt’s speech last night. I thought that he had won from the way he was talking. Why is that gasbag so full of himself?
deegee
February 1st, 2012
9:01 am
The thought of a drunk Newt playing grab ass is just hilarious even if it may not be true.
Miss Priss!
February 1st, 2012
9:21 am
A Mormon. A Catholic. I won’t vote for either one.
jw
February 1st, 2012
9:26 am
The 6 or 7 percent of true lovers of Liberty who voted for Ron Paul are not going away.
.
There is no such thing as a FORMER Ron Paul supporter.
.
In the future……….Galloway and other NewtObamaRomney supporters/moochers will have to buy their own wheelchairs, prescription drugs, and manage their own retirements.
.
This sounds cruel to idiots who have faith in government.
But it is ear candy to Patriots.
Mr. Ected
February 1st, 2012
9:48 am
Romney’s victory is indicative of the fact that the Tea Party has been rejected by the Republican Party as a whole.
The general election will indicate that the Republican Party has been rejected by America as a whole.
ITS ALL BUSHS FAULT
February 1st, 2012
9:51 am
The nite the GOP elite told the Tea party to sit down and shut up… Awesome….OBAMA …2012
bbowers
February 1st, 2012
9:52 am
As it appears Georgia will be the last hope for Newtie, I address my Buckhead Bedrock Republican ladies. This so-called Tea Party has nothing to do with the real issues at hand. Although I fear a morman cultist in the White House, I would detest the thought of Mrs. Gingrich the THIRD being the First Lady of our Land. We all know the type of young harlot who advances her career through her oral skills, and I’m not talkin’ about her gift of rhetoric. Then waltzes off with your account at Tiffany’s and your husband. As God as my witness, WE shall never vote for the Gingriches for the White House. Cat house is more appropriate.
Marlboro Man
February 1st, 2012
9:59 am
A stick in the spokes solves no problems.
Jose
February 1st, 2012
10:03 am
FL wasn’t about the elite. This is about traditional Republicans who are worried most about the state of the economy and the need for character and leadership saying enough to Newt and his politics of division and moral hypocracy. I know that pitting “elites” against “non-elites” is all the rage right now in the media, the truth is that a lot of plain ol regular folks cast their votes yesterday in Florida..
Georgia, The " New Mississippi "
February 1st, 2012
10:42 am
Newt will still vote for Mitt Romney just like the rest of the Tea Party Klan that got sent to the back of the bus in the Fl primary……..Everyone in American knows this………. We are lucky people still bother to vote considering the low caliber candidates that constantly seek office for personal gain.
jawja
February 1st, 2012
10:48 am
Going Right @10:18 The reason I personally dislike the teaparty movement? When Cheney was throwing his wars and meeting w/ his oil buddies to fill their pockets, you didn’t say a thing. You are disingenuous and insincere, and, I don’t believe you care one IOTA about our country’s welfare. Your goal is to get Obama out of office, and, you don’t care if you destroy our country doing it. You should hang your heads in shame over the candidates you you support.
GET REAL
February 1st, 2012
11:23 am
Another darling of the conservative movement who trashed Newt as the GOP’s presidential nominee is Ann Coulter. Coulter endorsed Romney. Other than the Georgia congretional delegation, Newt couldn’t get most of the congressional members he served with in Congress in the 1990s to give him the time of day, let alone their endorsement. Palin’s had more than her 15 minutes of fame. Today, an endorsement from her is like a kiss of death. Newt can’t help shutting his mouth when his weird brain goes in gear. American base stations on the surface of the moon???? Oh, really?? “And who’s paying for that, Mr. Fiscal Conservative? The American middle class?” Not even Obama’s come up with anything quite as silly and crazy as that.
A vote for Newt is a vote for lunatics running the asylum.
missmollie
February 1st, 2012
11:29 am
Why did C
honested
February 1st, 2012
11:57 am
It has become quite apparent to the majority of Americans why the ToolsEnablingAristocrats had been relegated to the fringes.
All it took was giving them a year with any sort of authority.
Obama 2012!
The Truth
February 1st, 2012
12:00 pm
Sorry GOP and Tea Tardiers, but America will not vote for a bunch of flag-waving chickenhawks who resent that a black man was voted as President. You didn’t care about the national debt when Bush was spending trillions. You didn’t care about national defense when your President was sending us to two unfunded wars one of which was based on lies and cost trillions of dollars and thousands of lifes. You didn’t care about uncontrolled spending when 3 billion dollars was lost in the Iraqi desert by the Bush administration. Face it, you guys are a bunch of jerks, clowns and hypocrites.
Proud American
February 1st, 2012
12:51 pm
Does Newt Gingrich every own any blame. He is a man full of excuses for the things that he has done. According to him it is always someone else fault.
Proud American
February 1st, 2012
12:53 pm
We need to find out why all of Newt Gingrich staff just walked away from him, then we will really find out what rock he crawl from under. You have to wonder, why would an entire staff leave him like they did.
zeke
February 1st, 2012
5:24 pm
newt did not call romney after getting his arse handed to him….and newt’s fl results speech shows the man is unbalanced…