Gingrich: I would lose to Obama in a personality contest
(CNN) – While Newt Gingrich insisted on Friday he would be the best candidate to compete with President Barack Obama in November, he added there was one match in which he would lose against the president.
“He’s likeable. I would never beat Obama in a personality contest,” Gingrich said on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.” “But the presidency is not about likeability. The presidency is about are you capable of doing the job?”
Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker
In the interview, Gingrich also argued the recent controversy over his marriage history helps him connect with voters, claiming the timing of a new ABC News interview with his ex-wife has fueled supporters to rally around the candidate.
“I don't believe anybody who's going to vote tomorrow didn't already know I've been divorced and married,” Gingrich said. “It's all been out there for months. It was a sense of 'But why would ABC bring it up now?’”
The former House speaker received a standing ovation after he forcefully chided CNN for bringing up the interview in the first round of questions at the Republican presidential debate Thursday night.
He said South Carolina voters on Friday thanked him for attacking the media, with some supporters telling him he was “in their prayers.”
While Gingrich said presidential candidates should be prepared for conversations that are “amazingly detailed and amazingly open,” he said voters should not focus on his past, but the person he is today.
“Look at who I am now. Look at how close Callista and I are as a couple,” he said.
Also see:
Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich
Judge-drawn Texas redistricting map tossed out by Supreme Court
From CNN Politics
- Supreme Court rearranges its seating chart as Jackson takes the bench
- Want To Travel Practically Free? Get This Card
- Former President Jimmy Carter celebrates his 98th birthday
- Untitled
- Ron DeSantis pivots from political battles in aftermath of Hurricane Ian
- American citizen held in Iran for more than six years released to seek medical treatment, UN spokesperson says
"...voters should not focus on his past, but the person he is today."
Yeah...because what he says now is so honest and true.
Hay I don't believe this guy Newt, his has no backbone. Politics is very dirty, and to win you forget the issues and focus you attention to character assassination , name calling and anything you can dig up to smear against your rival. Forget about the issues and solutions to those issues for they are meaningless. No one care about solutions to our country's problems. You go after the juglar to you opponent.
If Gingrich doesn't want the media asking about stupid stuff that he's done, perhaps he shouldn't do stupid stuff in the first place.
Just sayin'...
So, Gingrich doesn't want HIS past to keep him from getting the job HE wants? As President, would he support legislation making it less difficult for felons who've done their time to get the jobs they want?
People dislike media? And yet, "your" network, Fox news has the highest ratings. Irony.
“He’s likeable. I would never beat Obama in a personality contest,”
Well at least he got that part correct.
Is this the best the GOP has to offer? Seriously? A vulture capitalist and a lobbyist.
And what in the world is Mitt Romney hiding in the Cayman Islands? A blind trust? What is a blind trust? Who is he doing business with? And why doesn't he have his money in local hometown banks? Interesting, no?
And Newt Gingrich – good grief. Making money peddling his influence in DC, and a serial cheater. Wow.
My guess is tomorrow morning Mitt will get ruffled, because he doesn't do well going off script, and Newt will get mean. Should be interesting, and ugly.
Callista won't let the Newtster out of her sight because she is afraid he would be screwing another woman.
Newt: the monster spider in the corner of my garage is more like likeable than you
A rabid dog is more likeable than wife-swapping wannabe Newt.
Every man's got to know his limitations.
Obama is a gameshow host. Newt is a president.
Obama is more likable because he isn't a slime ball. You are but a tick on the hide of America sucking it dry for all you are worth. You have no interest other than your own self promotion and to gobble up public money as fast as you can. Go away.
My ex-wife is more likeable than you Newt!
"Look at how close Callista and I are as a couple,” he said.". So very close. Only 23 years apart!
Newt, everybody's more likeable than you.
But I thought everyone hated Obama so Newt, what's your point again? You don't make any sense!
"Obama's more likeable than me" says Newt.
Maybe it'd be shorter to list people disliked more than Newt...
And morals and ethics and financial responsibility and honesty and... do I really need to go on??
Newt, you'd lose to Obama at EVERY contest.
Actually, Newt would lose to Stalin in a personality contest. And Obama would crush him November.
yes newt, you're quite correct. And he's a better president than you could dream of being.
None of you have a personality like President Obama. All of you are completely boring. No personality. All you do is bash President Obama. But at the end of the day. We definiately have a good looking president with style and CLASS!
Yep Newt. You certainly would lose a personality contest w/ the President, just as you would lose a general election to him.
Newt, your family values will not be able to beat those of Mr. Obama.