WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has taken considerable heat from conservative activists for endorsing Republican Dede Scozzafava over Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in next month's special congressional election in New York.
Gingrich spoke to CNN Radio.
But Gingrich is defending his approach to re-building the Republican Party. It begins, he said, by accommodating those who might disagree with you.
"Both parties have to recognize, you can create a center-right majority in America, which we did with Reagan in '80 and we did it again with the 'Contract with America' in '94," Gingrich said in an interview with CNN Radio. "You can't have a purely right-wing majority; you can't have a purely left-wing majority."
The former speaker claimed that Democrats are doing their part to help the GOP by promoting a liberal ideology. "Today, the Democrats are moving toward a secular-socialist model that is guaranteed minority in America," he said.
And he was cautiously optimistic about the 2010 midterm elections.
"Next year, I think we could win [governorships in] Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, the Senate seat in Illinois. In Ohio, we could win both the governorship and the Senate seat," Gingrich said. He also predicted losses for three prominent Democratic incumbents: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
Along with the New York special election, Republicans are also watching two key gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Gingrich predicated the GOP will win in Virginia "by a big margin," but was less optimistic about the party's chances in the Garden State.
"I think we have a good chance to win New Jersey, if people conclude that voting for the third-party candidate just re-elects [incumbent Gov. Jon] Corzine," he said.
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Why not? We have a far left administration that is bankrupting this country with the help of Nancy Pelosi. Don't think this is the change America voted for.............but we got it anyway.
i feel that the GOP runs the risk of truly becoming a minority party unless they decide to have a broad coalition. I am not endorsing the RINO approach of people like Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe, but it is perfectly fine to have moderate Republicans in our big tent.
The Republican party needs to wake up. As long as the right wing of the party don't change their views, the only thing they will win is principle.
Unless they change their views on such subjects as abortion and others, to name a few, they will never come into power again.
While I don't consider myself a RINO, I am a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. On abortion, I strongly believe that this is a woman's right, and while I am not pro-gay, I believe in the Army's don't ask, don't tell policy.
Once a Republican, always a scumbag. I don't care what flavors they come in. They're all loco.
Well, if it "ain't" Newt still trying to sell his story of years gone by. He really thinks he is still important in the grand scheme of things. He fancies himself as leading the GOP, well probably better him than Limbaugh, but not much credibility from either. He along with Cheney, Limbaugh, etc. should realize they had their chance. It is over. They will be too old to care when republicanism becomes fashionable again.
Well, the governorship of Kansas, I would say you should pick that up since there is no real Democratic canidate running. But when Brownback wins it, it is not because of anything competent the Republican party has done in Kansas.
Hey, Newt. Shut up. We are love watching the GOP stab each other in the back. It helps keep the knife out of our backs.
Wait... Newt - are you NOW saying that everything you've fought for has been WRONG?
We've been saying that for YEARS!
...and then Republican Carly Fiorina will take Barbara Boxer's Senate seat. We welcome intelligent, responsible representation in California. Go Carly.
Gingrich Quote of the Day -- "You can't have a purely right-wing majority; you can't have a purely left-wing majority."
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Newt, you should be smart enough to know that 'preachin to the choir' is a fruitless endeavor. And preachin’ to the Republican base about inclusion is a waste of breath. But hey; this is a bed that you helped to make……so go take a nap in it like a big boy
!
The Newts "Contract With America" turned out to be the biggest scam ever pulled on the American people.We cant wait to see how that "trickledown theory" works on his grave.
Newt Gingrich is totally clueless.
Today's Republican Party demands conformity and total adherence to right wing beliefs and dogma. Any Republican that does not follow this strict interpretation is not a real Republican.
You are either with them or against them. There is no middle ground to modern Republicans
Excuse me Newt you had a Contract On America not with America.
Bullseye's Newt.
Yeah, that Contract with America...YOU DID NONE OF IT!!! Crazy Newt, thinks our memory lasts only a couple of years. Go off with Rush and sleep with as many campaign workers...you know business as usual.
"You can't have a purely right-wing majority." For once in my life, I actually AGREE with something Newt Gingrich has said.
I just hope Mr. Gingrich will have the cajones to stand up to Rush Limbaugh, when Limbaugh starts ranting and raving, denouncing Mr. Gringrich for "compromising" with "liberals."
Too late... the GOP has already been successfully hijacked by the extreme right wing, moderates and independents are jumping ship. Corzine now leads Christie by 9 points, just 2 months ago Christie was up by double digits. The GOP is in BIG trouble.
Go away Newt. Nobody is interested any more.
I am former republicans
2000 Republicans didn’t help McCain
2008 they put Mc Cain down and praise Pailn
Now they are dreaming 2010
2010 republicans will loss more seats because they are Ignoring the middleclass and minorities
GOP lost the credibility when they broke this nation financially into pieces....world is looking down...because of GOP....and their 8 years of administration...ok....pres. obama, go for health care reform with public option...writer is a very highly educated...wishes for the best of the American people....
Hello Newt....... You had your time and did not do anything that American People remember. You are all nothing but currept politician who are in the pockets of the corporation and your own iterest. You have no intention to help American people......... you need some one who has vision of 21st century, your old thoughts won't work this time.
I hate the man so much, but in this case, he is right on the money.
I agree with Newt. The GOP will be crushed if it doesn't change direction. Some Republicans think the base has been vitalized by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and the other idiot on FOX News Glenn Beck. WRONG! They are hurting the party (mainly Beck with his buffonery)!
"and we are not saved..."
It would be nice to get back to parties that contain conservatives, moderates and liberals.... both parties have been hijacked by the liberals and conservatives....
If Gingrich thinks the Republican controlled congress of 1994 was center-right then he obviously doesn't know where the center is. They were the start of the hard right shift of the GOP. Now each Republican tries to be more right wing than the others. I've seen races here in Florida where GOP candidates campaigned against each other as to who is more conservative than the other.