Newt Gingrich reassured Republican voters that his presidential campaign was still ticking despite the loss of nearly its entire senior staff in a coordinated mass resignation last week.
“I will carry the message of American renewal to every part of this great land,” Gingrich said in a speech on Sunday to the Republican Jewish Coalition in Beverly Hills. “And with the help of every American who wants to change Washington, we will prevail.”
Gingrich’s speech was his first public appearance in weeks after taking off on a European cruise with wife Callista. His campaign, already in grave condition after Gingrich labeled Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan “right wing social engineering” on Meet The Press, suffered another blow during his absence when 16 aides quit at once in protest over Newt’s strategy.
Gingrich alluded to their departure in his speech, according to Politico. “I know full well the rigors of campaigning for public office,” he said. “in fact, I’ve had some recent reminders.”
Asked by reporters afterwards whether his campaign was still viable, he replied “Go ask the voters.”
Benjy Sarlin
Benjy Sarlin is a reporter for Talking Points Memo and co-writes the campaign blog, TPM2012. He previously reported for The Daily Beast/Newsweek as their Washington Correspondent and covered local politics for the New York Sun.
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