Algona, Iowa (CNN) - Newt Gingrich cited fraud Wednesday as the reason he didn't get on the Virginia primary ballot.
Last week his campaign acknowledged they used paid volunteers to scramble to get the required 10,000 signatures but fell short after the former House speaker and Virginia resident boasted his campaign was submitting as many as 12,000-14,000 signatures.
On a campaign stop at an Algona chocolate store, the former House speaker said the "mistake" occurred because one of their workers committed fraud.
"We hired somebody who turned in false signatures. We turned in 11,100 – we needed 10,000 – 1,500 of them were by one guy who frankly committed fraud."
The campaign called the Virginia ballot qualification process a "failed system" after they learned that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul were the only candidates that were successful.
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The responsiblity is with the man who needed the signatures and that would be Newt,
Gingrich: Campaign worker's signature fraud cost slot on Virginia ballot – @newtgingrich – not Pearl Harbor – FRAUD – LOL – seems right 4 u
So Newt, did you press charges? Or is this just another excuse for poor organizational skills? Anything and anyone but "me".
How do you know it a Republican operative??
How about some reason everyone. All Newt said is that a person submitting 1500 phony signatures is fraud... and it is. Nothing more was said about it. ACORN committed fraud as well, and they admitted to some of it. They turned in some people, AFTER they were raided, and AFTER the election was over and the person they supported had won.
Oh no you don't newt! Stop playing the victim card. You failed, plain and simple. Your not going to get on the ballot because of something your campaign 'supposedly' did.
Goodbye Grinch....you have been weighed....and found lacking. The big mystery is how you made it as far as you did. Your record speaks so loud, we can't hear what you're saying.
"Mark,
This speaks to Newt's character. He doesn't take accountability for his own failures but instead tries to put the blame on someone else. The bottom line is that he did not gather enough votes to make it on the VA ballot, which by the way is a state that he lives in and knows very clearly what the requirements are to get on the ballot. This is just another excuse and attempt to place the blame elsewhere. Definitely not the kind of person we as Americans, would want serving as our president."
<<<<<<<<<<<<
Love you Democratic hypocrites. This Describes B.O.'s ENTIRE presidency. IT's: bush's fault, PB's fault, the tsunami, the earthquake, automated machines, the Arab Spring, etc, etc.
One thing about Mister Gingrich, he makes Obama look like a grown-up.
I'd like to personally thank whoever this person was for sticking it to the Newt and saving the rest of us from any possibility that he would get the nomination.
Everybody, relax. The fun is just starting. These candidates need to have the patience and stamina to put up with setbacks like these. If what Newt says is true, he should have insisted on 14K signatures to allow for this kind of behavior. Newt, move on to the next issue like coming in at least 3rd in Iowa.
I believe this has sunk Newt's ship. He had a chance but he's bailing water from now on. The sad thing is Robomney is a shoe-in for the nomination unless the evangelicals rally around the catholic Santorum "en mass".
The free market has spoken.
Newt has always been a poser conservative, so I'm not surprised that he would use the same tactics as the democrats i.e. FRAUD, to get on the ballot.
We have to start thinking about having a President named "Newt" or "Mitt". Will they go down in the history books as "Newton Leroy Gingrich" or "Willard Mittens Romney"? It just doesn't work does it?
It's not fraud if you keep a Democrat from winning an election. It's patriotism.
It really is a shame that Virginia doesn't want a chance to vote for the eventual Republican nominee, Newt Gingrich. I hope he doesn't take it our on them after the inauguration. I do wonder why Gingrich used ACORN for the signature drive, though.
►Gingrich: Campaign worker's signature fraud cost slot on Virginia ballot
What? Voter FRAUD on the GOP side? No Acorn to deride?
Bad signatures – Mickey Mouse – But only GOPs in the house?
Who will they blame – Do they have a name? – Not the LEFT this time
Think about it – Maybe FRAUD was always there – And it’s the REPUBS we have to fear!!
Obama 2012
I can see foresee the Gingrinch Administration saying "one of our Cabinet members committed fraud." At least we know where the buck stops.
You can't be serious Marjee 12 DUH. Do we all remember when Al Franken won, and oh my gosh he lost until just the right number of votes appeared weeks later in the trunk of "someones" car. And lets not even go to the Illinois/chicago practices in EVERY STINKING ELECTION of the Cemetary vote being the largest turnout at the polling booths. I don't like the Gas Bag Newt Gingrich, but let's get our fact straight, the percentage of Acorn Fraud, Union Fraud and just plain DEMOCRATIC fraud out weights the GOP by an astronomical amount. And that beat continues to go on and on and on.
oh come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn't vote for obama last time but this time I am going to vote for him.... I think he is the best thing for America in recent history... WONDERFUL! 4 more years and this country will be purged of a corrupt congress and senate because the people are going to purge every politician out by civil war.... There will be unrest like never seen in America. Because when good is bad and bad is good and Americans can't say "Merry Christmas" because good is bad and can't store more than seven days worth of food because good is bad and once they can't own a gun because good is bad..... There will be a purging of the bad by the good! So lets pull together and re-elect this idiot.... or lets put Ron Paul in and save us the time...
Lets face it Gingrich's time is up. On to bashing Paul and Santorum.
something is telling me he should get back to the kitchen
ANYONE convicted of voter fraud should automatically be sentenced to a 5year prison term!!
1. Send the guy who commited fraud to jail.
2. Send Mr. Gingrich back to the lobby business.