Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign suffered what could be a fatal blow Thursday when at least a half a dozen senior aides resigned.
The former House Speaker (R-Ga.) lost his campaign manager, Rob Johnson; his longtime spokesman, Rick Tyler; his top lieutenants in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina; and other paid staff.
The resignations, along with Gingrich’s rough campaign rollout, raise serious questions about how his campaign will remain viable.
The former Speaker took to his Facebook page to downplay the news, writing that he would not be dropping out and that his campaign would begin anew.
“I am committed to running the substantive, solutions-oriented campaign I set out to run earlier this spring. The campaign begins anew Sunday in Los Angeles,” he wrote.
Tyler, who had been with Gingrich for more than 10 years, confirmed the mass exodus, telling The Hill “the candidate and the campaign have different visions for victory.”
Tyler, known for his loyalty to Gingrich, did not speak negatively of the Georgia Republican, simply noting: “The candidate’s vision should prevail; and that’s why the staff has to leave.”
The advisers submitted their resignations on Thursday in Washington, D.C., where Gingrich’s campaign headquarters is based. The remaining campaign staffers, holed up in their K Street offices in downtown Washington, refused access to visitors.
Gingrich’s campaign has suffered from stumbling blocks since even before he announced. But the major breaking point appeared to be Gingrich’s recent vacation — shortly after he formally announced his presidential bid, he left on a two-week cruise in Greece with his wife, Callista.
Also resigning were senior advisers Sam Dawson and Scott Rials, South Carolina director Katon Dawson, Iowa director Craig Schoenfeld and New Hampshire director Dave Carney, according to sources. Gingrich’s entire paid staff in Iowa also quit, the Des Moines Register reported.
Carney echoed Taylor’s reasons for leaving, saying there was a “fundamental disagreement” in campaign strategy.
“You can’t run a low budget campaign with a lot of paid folks on the payroll,” he told the New Hampshire Union Leader.
Gingrich is scheduled to keynote the Republican Jewish Coalition dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif., Sunday night. He’s also scheduled to participate in Monday’s presidential primary debate in Manchester, N.H.
The big question he’ll face is how he rebounds from this blow.
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2 Responses
I think Anthony Weiner will be looking for gainful employment in the near future. Perhaps he could be unfaithful to his liberal leanings and take over managing Newt’s campaign.
The most interesting thing about this article is the lack of response from the YWN commentariat and readership who, I believe, lean heavily toward the Republican party. After 2 days, no one seems to care.