One after another, the candidates in the 2012 race for the Republican presidential nomination have had their time in the limelight, but faltered after scrutiny or debate stumbles. The newest candidate to go through this cycle, based on polling, is former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
On “Fox News Sunday” on the Fox broadcast network, Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume explained this phenomenon and credited the GOP debate process for seemingly every candidate getting a turn out front.
“Well, he can continue to compete in this phase of the campaign which is all about one thing: the debates,” Hume said. “And in debates, the candidates are pretty much on equal footing. Newt Gingrich does well in these debates and he seems to have now adopted the kind of persona that is working for him.”
Hume noted that Gingrich’s personal qualities lend well to this process, but added time will tell if he has staying power.
“He’s ‘Uncle Newt,’” Hume said. “He’s complimentary of his fellow candidates and dumps over the president, which the Republican audiences love. He’s got substantive things to say on nearly everything, as he always has. In this format, he’s found a way to look good. So, as the conservative element of the electorate, which is not ready to go to Mitt Romney, migrates from each candidate to another — each of which seems to collapse upon receiving the favor of this group — this is Newt’s turn. This is Newt’s turn and we’ll see how the scrutiny that will unavoidably come with that — how he deals that and affects his chances.”
Watch:
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