Points made on Monday, January 23, on the Charlie Rose show about the Republican primary in South Carolina. Participants: Mathew Dowd, Bloomberg News and ABC News; John Meacham, Executive Editor, Random House, Contributing Editor, Time magazine; Nate Silver, 538-Blog, The New York Times.
Yes, it could happen, should there be a severe down-turn in the economy in the summer – an oil crisis, for example, or bad news from Europe. There was a 24-point shift in popularity in Newt’s favour in ten days.
Newt appeals to blue-collar, white America – which includes Reagan Democrats – Archie Bunker types.
The base of the Republican Party is NOT Wall Street, NOT the rich, but blue-collar, white America. The Republican establishment has lost control of the campaign.
It’s now a race between the good Newt Gingrich, disciplined, knows where he is going, and the bad Newt Gigrich, undisciplined, short-tempered, all over the place. Attacking the press as “despicable” on the issue of his personal life – three marriages! – was brilliant.
Newt is the new Nixon. Not the new Reagan.
Mitt appeals to the “Conservatesientsia.” It is forgotten that Newt, now waging a war against the Washington System, was part of the establishment when Speaker of the House.
Voters want a passionate, optimistic narrative. That is not in Mitt’s genes.
For Americans, voting for a president is the most important personal choice – outside family choices – they make in their lives. The President enters their living room every night.
Eric Koch’s new book, The Weimar Triangle, is available at Indigo-Chapters and in your local bookstore. 
