Gingrich: Michigan a must-win for Romney

By: Leigh Ann Caldwell
Topics: Campaign 2012

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that if opponent Mitt Romney loses his home state of Michigan, there is little "rationale" for Romney to stay in the race.

"If he can't carry his home state, I think the rationale for why is there a Romney candidacy - he's not a candidate of ideas. He's not a candidate of ideologies," Gingrich said on Fox News Sunday.

Michigan voters head to the polls on Tuesday, February 28, and polls show former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is leading there.

Host Chris Wallace asked Gingrich if the same is true for him and his home state of Georgia, which votes along with 9 other states on March 6 "Super Tuesday."

Gingrich backtracked slightly to lower expectations ahead of a possible Georgia loss.

"Given the chaos of this race, I wouldn't say anything, but it's - but I'm certainly willing to say I think it's extraordinarily important to carry your home state. And also has an underlying impact if you don't."

Asked if he would drop out if he lost Georgia, Gingrich indicated he would not.

"I was home campaigning for the last two days precisely to say to all of my friends back home, Georgia really matters," Gingrich said.

Gingrich told reporters after a fundraising sweep in California that he could lose Georgia given the unpredictable primary.

"Look, given this kind of a year, who knows?" Gingrich said Thursday.

Gingrich is running a consistent third place behind his opponents, and he laid the onus on his challengers Romney and Santorum to win on their own home turf, too.

"I think you'd have a very - if any of the three loses our home state, if Santorum loses Pennsylvania, Romney loses Michigan, or I lose Georgia, you have I think a very, very badly-weakened candidacies."

Santorum has more time before his state votes. Pennsylvania voters head to the polls in April.

Leigh Ann Caldwell
Leigh Ann Caldwell is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

13 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 13 Comments


by jdaryyl February 20, 2012 10:40 PM EST: What gives America?

What needs to happen when the media ignores a march in which 600 or more vets march to the White House. They were in formation, chanting in cadence for Ron Paul. They also do an about face AWAY from the White House and once there, salute the flag for 8 minutes (1 SECOND for every suicide of a troop while serving during Obama presidency) and then a silent 21 min prayer (1 second for each soldier killed during Obama presidency).

Obama promised to bring back the troops.

What happens when the media ignores this? Even if you dislike the person (Ron Paul) who's non-interventionist policy they were marching for, what gives the media the right to ignore this event? You think the media is fair to Ron Paul?

Folks the media's job is to feed false propaganda and to establish candidates... Candidates approved of by the establishment.

WATCH THE VIDEO, before you tell me how wrong I am about the military-media-global banking-intelligence industrial complex that calls the shots for our future.

They don't care about you unless you consume their poisons, and they damn sure don't want a man who is for the people. They want servitude.

So long middle class, and so long 1st amendment. They are headed where the 4th went.

http://youtu.be/P7M21JlBM78; Reply to this comment


by FACEITT February 20, 2012 7:30 PM EST: Instead of worrying about the Mittster and Michigan, Gingrich better get Georgia on his Mind! He already blew his home state of VA by not getting on the ballot. So far, he's only won one state and he thinks Romney should drop out?! and yet, if he doesn't win GA, he is not going to drop out! The balls on this shyster are unbelievable; Reply to this comment


by erpicferl February 20, 2012 6:47 PM EST: i'm sure most of the 36 people who will show up at the polls in MI will vote for mittens..cuz you know he has energized the masses so much...yawn; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 February 20, 2012 6:12 PM EST: Gingrich: Michigan a must-win for Romney
**************

Gawrsh, now ain't Newt just brilliant.; Reply to this comment


by pandygirl February 20, 2012 5:46 PM EST: America needs to wake up soon. People need to quit buying into what there being told. Romney is getting blasted everywhere for not wanting to bailout the Auto Industry but that not the whole story. Santorum and Newt were against the bailout and Paul agreed with Romney about the bailout. So all those people who are mad at Romney for his stance need to either hold all the candidates responsible or don't make that your issue for voting against Romney. That's like the pot calling the kettle black.; Reply to this comment


by boatdocster February 20, 2012 2:59 PM EST: Gingrich is so full of himself. The prize is having the required number of delegates, regardless of where they come from. This is nothing more than a cheap Gingrich stunt to try and belittle Romney if he does not win Michigan.

"I tell people it's like the NCAA Final Four with no elimination. You could imagine all of us going all the way to the convention."
NEWT GINGRICH

The problem is Gingrich's team is so weak that he has little chance of being in the Sweet Sixteen, let alone the Final Four!; Reply to this comment


by lane612 February 19, 2012 11:09 PM EST: Let's see: Romney lived in Michigan through high school. Then mission, university, law and business school and a career in Boston. So he has 3 "must win" "Home States", Michigan, Mass and New Hampshire.

Using the same logic, candidate Gingrich has his own "must win" states. Georgia, Virginia states where he gcurrently resides and his home state of Pennsylvania. His confidence in a Georgia win is not what it use to be, but it clearly must be better for Pennsylvania and Virginia.. Oops, he didn't qualify for the Virginia primary, so it seems he only has 2 "must win"states.

Just like investments in Fannie and Freddie candidate Gingrich seems to speak out before he fully analyzes what is saying.

Just what we need another Politician who's motto seems to be - Ready, Fire, Aim..; Reply to this comment


by venusvegasvada February 19, 2012 8:22 PM EST: Let's break this down-

16 Feb, 2012-
Gingrich: I could lose Georgia
(Translation- I'm running out of money).

17 Feb, 2012
Gingrich: Sues TV station in Georgia to prevent the running of ads against him.
(Translation, how do I keep this wagon going with the wheels falling off...)

17 Feb, 2012
Gingrich: My opponents are Chicken because they don't think I'm worth their time debating.
(Translation: Jeeze, I can't believe how pathetic things are right now)

17 Feb, 2012
Gingrich: Sheldon Adelson is giving me another 10 to 15 million.

(Translation: Hallelujah! I BS'd my sugar daddy, Sheldon Adelson into coming off another 10 to 15 million. Sweet Mother of Negative Attack Ads my campaign isn't dead after all! Adelson's checks should clear by next week sometime. Boo Yaah! Who's the loser now suckers!)

18 Feb, 2012
Gingrich had said earlier this week there was a possibility he could lose here, but on Saturday (18Feb) amended that prediction to say, "We actually have a very good chance of doing well here, and that gives us a springboard then to go across the whole country. I think that's part of what we are counting on."

(Translation: I've built my career on negative attack ads and nobody does them better. Once those checks clear, it's go time. I'll have those Georgians putting sugar on their grits by election time.)

19 Feb, 2012
Gingrich: Michigan a must-win for Romney

(Translation: Now that Newt thinks the money is in the bank he is calculating that it will buy him Georgia. So now he feels confident enough to start slamming Romney and Santorum again.)

Stay tuned for the next pathetic update...; Reply to this comment


by renopanther February 19, 2012 7:27 PM EST: I just enjoy the usual doublespeak/double standard. If Romney losses MI - he should quit the race. But I (Gingrich) can loose all states and still win the election. Why is a straight statement that applies both ways always impossible to get from these guys?; Reply to this comment


by Quivley February 19, 2012 6:58 PM EST: Michigan's delegates are awarded proportionately and are NOT a MUST win for any candidate. Yet, since Romney is the BEST candidate, I hope he does very well in Michigan. Romney is the only truly electable GOP candidate. We need Romney's business savvy and depth of economic knowledge to get this country's economy rolling again. We need his seasoned judgement and team building talents to get things done. Romney will deliver a smaller, simpler, smarter government. Romney will rid us of excessive regulation and bring us much needed efficiency.; Reply to this comment