Gingrich begins charging $50 for pics at events

Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, right, shakes hands with a supporter during a campaign stop in Hockessin, Del., Monday, March 26, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Jessica Kourkounis

(CBS News) HOCKESSIN, Delaware - In a sign that his campaign is in need of fresh funds, Newt Gingrich on Monday began charging $50 to have a photograph taken with him following a campaign speech to Republican County groups here in the northernmost part of the state.

It was the first time the former House speaker has charged those attending one of his public speaking events to pose for a photograph with him. Lately, a member of his campaign staff has been snapping photographs of any interested attendee and later posting them online at the campaign's website, newt.org.

On Monday night, those paying for a photograph were also told they could find their photos on Gingrich's website, after they had filled out a form providing their credit card information.

Candidate page: Newt Gingrich
Complete coverage: Election 2012

The campaign limped out of the month of February posting more debt than cash on hand. And poor showings in the recent primaries of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama - all southern states Gingrich had once expressed optimism he could win - are likely to not help any fundraising pushes.

Gingrich held only one public event on Monday - in Hockessin, located in a state that votes on Apr. 24. He was scheduled to travel to North Carolina on Wednesday, but that trip was cancelled today in favor of campaigning in the Washington D.C. area. The speaker will spend his next two days there and in Maryland before heading to Wisconsin at the end of the week.

[Raynie_Day]

This reminds me of a recent episode of the HBO comedy "Life's Too Short" starring Warwick Davis, a dwarf actor who appeared in Star Wars films (as an Ewok), Harry Potter movies, and was the star of the little known fantasy movie "Willow". The show's premise centers around Warwick's difficulty in trying to get new roles for himself, and he just coasts on past successes. In one particular episode, he has a booth at a sci-fi convention where he's signing photos of himself which he sells for 25 pounds each (it's a British show). As can be imagined, most people balk at the price and attempt to convince him to just give them one. It's a funny situation, and Newt's latest attempt to bring in cash to keep his campaign afloat sounds just as funny to me. Stay with it until the convention, Newt! We can use the laughs!

[Lindag10]

How many suckers have paid? LMAO

[sharkboy234]

YOU SHOULD QUIT THE RACE NOW AND GO HOME! YOU'RE PHONY! YOU WAY OUT OF YOUR HEAD NEWT!

[platehead1]

Sounds like a good deal. Newton would spend his dollars wisely getting his photo taken with me. It is I, however, who would be getting the 50 bucks and as a former professional fighter I could teach him how to tap out and go home for another 10 cents. It's the least I can do for America...and to think I was a Republican once. I got outta there when Pope Reagan hit the jackpot.

[doncheech164]

i heard it is 75 dollars if you want a happy ending with the pic.

[rightontarget]

by cheryl5555 March 26, 2012 11:24 PM EDT
"Newt IS the smartest man running,"
***********************************************

Really???????? LMAO! Well there isn't one good brain amongst all of them but Newt the smartest??? LOL! Now if somebody said he's the most egotistical windbag I could go along with that one. The really "smart" people are those who wouldn't even consider forking over $50.00 for a picture with the Pilsbury Dough Boy.

[audemus]

What the hell? He knows he's not going to win, so why not make a few bucks...that's just good old-fashioned capitalism at its finest (and most pathetic)....

[ajk_cbsnews]

A picture will make a good keepsake since the has-been blowhard is at the end of his political career. He will still be able to make a buck, dressing up as an elephant at his wife's book signings!

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

Newt, take a hint, GO HOME AND STAY THERE!!!!

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

The man is an embarrasment to himself and his party.