(Image Source: Newt 2012)
BY ALYSSA CARTEE
ANCHOR CHRISTY LEWIS
New Hampshire’s largest newspaper endorsed Newt Gingrich Sunday morning. The Union Leader published a front page editorial explaining their decision. CNN’s Candy Crowley asked the editor of the paper why they chose Gingrich in spite of lower poll numbers earlier this month.
“We consider the candidate overall. We don’t just look at the poll numbers. This isn’t a game where we’re trying to win the primary so we can have a record of x number of wins. We don’t look at it that way. We’re not trying to attach our name to a winner. That’s not really leading. That would do our readers a very big disservice.”
Fellow candidate Jon Huntsman isn’t giving up hope. He said on “Fox News Sunday” the endorsement is perfect evidence of how quickly this race is changing.
“It once again proves how fluid and unpredictable New Hampshire is. People are just beginning to pay attention and coalesce around candidates. I think more than anything else, I mean a month ago for Newt Gingrich to have been in the running to capture the Union Leader endorsement would be unthinkable.”
The New Hampshire primary was thought to favor Mitt Romney given his family history in the region. However, New York 1 reports the paper has greatly influenced the race before.
“The paper’s endorsement for John McCain four years ago is widely credited with helping him win the primary and set him on the path toward the GOP nomination.”
Columnists for Politico say Romney’s campaign focus is not instep with the focus of the GOP base.
“... its focus on abstract personal qualities over tangible economic accomplishments could be a worrisome sign for Romney.”
However, a blogger for The Washington Times says not so fast. It seems Gingrich is receiving “kisses of death” from major democratic leaders.
“Senator Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, knows very well that any kind of support from him towards a Republican candidate could deep six that GOP'er in as fast as New York minute. … Former President Bill Clinton, also endeared himself to Mr. Gingrich telling Newsmax, ‘He's articulate and he tries to think of a conservative version of an idea that will solve a legitimate problem.’”
The New Hampshire primary is the first primary race and will be held January 10th.
