Gingrich says gas prices a problem for Obama
(CNN) – Newt Gingrich, still looking to grab a second win in the 2012 Republican nominating process, said Sunday he didn't have any plans to drop out of the race, despite calls from his rival's advisers to step aside.
Speaking to CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley on "State of the Union," Gingrich pointed to rival Rick Santorum's own refusal to drop out in January, when Gingrich urged the former Pennsylvania senator to get out of the race.
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"I'm taking Rick Santorum's advice," Gingrich said. "He stayed in, he was running fourth in every single primary, suddenly he very cleverly went to three states nobody else went to, and he became the media darling and bounced back."
Gingrich pointed to the Gallup daily tracking poll, which has shown support for the former House speaker rising nationally since the Arizona and Michigan primaries on February 28. The most recent survey, taken February 27-March 2, showed Gingrich with the support of 17% of Republicans nationwide, putting him third behind Romney, who was at 36%, and Santorum, at 22%.
"We have had a steady closing in the Gallup poll every day for the last two weeks," Gingrich said. "I'm very confident in largest state that will vote on Tuesday, Georgia, which has more delegates than any other state, we're going to win a very decisive victory. We're going to do well in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Ohio, and many other states. I'm happy to continue."
Despite President Barack Obama's improving favorability ratings, Gingrich said Republicans were still poised to take the White House and the Senate in November.
"People take stock," Gingrich said. "The price of gasoline is becoming a genuine crisis for many American families. If it continues to go higher it will crater the economy by August. People will have no discretionary income. As a result the president will go into the fall with very expensive gasoline, a weakening economy, a disastrously bad policy in the Middle East. I think that's a pretty big burden."
Gingrich said the GOP would not be harmed by the controversy surrounding radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, who this week used incendiary language to describe a law student after she testified in a Congressional hearing over contraception coverage. Limbaugh apologized for the remarks Saturday.
"The Republican Party has four people running for president, none of whom is Rush Limbaugh," Gingrich said. "One of them will end up as the nominee, and that person will be the Republican spokesman. I don't think any of them were involved in this controversy at all."
Aside from high gas prices, Gingrich said the president's foreign policy would hamper his chances of reelection. The GOP White House hopeful shot down Obama's assertion that his apology for the burning of Qurans in Afghanistan saved American lives.
"I don't believe the president saved lives by what he did," Gingrich said. "I believe the president set a terrible precedent of a commander in chief not standing up for American troops."
He continued, "This excuse of his is baloney. He has apologized so many times, in so many countries, it is frankly embarrassing to have a president who thinks apologizing for the United States is a good policy."
Gingrich added that he believed Obama has taken "no steps" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The administration says its policy of forging international sanctions against Iran to isolate the Tehran regime is the best way forward for now, and it adds that all options – including possible military action – remain on the table.
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Newt is giving most republicans gas.
Phony. who are you kidding? You love all the negative attention. The more shocking, the better. You're an idiot.
In an earlier item, Rush apologized for his stupidity. Does that make him an extreme right wingnut apologist and an appeaser?
Newt keeps playing the stupid card. It only appeals to those who lack the understanding that speculators on oil futures drive the cost of gasoline along with republicans threatening to start a war with Iran.
What will Newt use to power his moon vehicles if their is no gas stations up there?
Gas prices are a problem for all of us, but they wouldn't be if the rethugs had gotten out of the way of weaning us off fossil fuels and onto clean, renewable resources! instead, they push for the keystone pipeline that will be, basically, game over for the environment, not to mention a prime target for terrorists as it will pass thru several aquifers. one well-placed bomb could destroy the drinking water for millions of us. how much damage could a bomb in a wind farm do? nobody ever died from a sunshine spill. thinking people see the need to get away from our oil addiction. the rethugs just want to keep giving us another hit.
Ok, I am not an American, but from Europe. But it strikes me as totally inconsistent when a Republican candidate, representing the party that favors the free market to its fullest, blames the president from the Democrats when that same free market let the gasprices hit the roof. It's the ultimate test of the free market. Maximizing profits for the big oil, isn't that the Republican game?
Mr. Gingrich...Foreign policy is chess, not checkers.
Mr. Gingrich,
Americans do not want an adulterer as President of the United States of America.
Nor do Americans want an adulteress as First Lady of the United States of America.
Really? And since when does Obama have anything to do with setting gas prices? Is he a speculator on the world market now? Gingrich, you are losing, so get over it. Can't wait to see Obama trounce "say anything to please the crowd" Willard in Nov.
Nothing Gingrich says contains any factual content. Shame on voters who are stupid enough to vote for him, or any GOP-bagger for that matter.
So Gingrich wants the President to stand up for American troops' burning of the Quran? Let's try some bible burning and see how that goes over. Gingrich needs to get over his idea that the U.S. is all powerful and always in the right. Our history has proven otherwise time and time again. We are indeed a great nation, and a global leader, but we are also a member of the global community and must recognize and admit our errors. This is the only way we can claim moral superiority to those who do not, and maintain high standards of integrity. Gingrich is forgetting that leadership is one trickle-down that is a reality. Obama has great personal integrity, work ethic, and family values. That is the role model that should be projected to the world and the American citizenry. That is not what we would get from a Gingrich presidency.
Newt wants to go all the way because he's a pig
Sorry, comment was meant for Rush, not Newt.