NEWT STUMBLES – AT 8:52 A.M. ET:  Newt Gingrich goes through regular crises.   Like an experimental rocket, he roars off, flies high, then crashes.

It seems to be happening in Florida.  We reported in "Short Takes" last night that Romney is gaining on Gingrich in that state, which votes in its primary on Tuesday.  From Fox:

A two-man fight for Florida is emerging ahead of the state's final Republican presidential debate Thursday, with polls showing the race neck and neck as Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich pound each other over personal and professional vulnerabilities.

A new Time magazine/CNN poll had the race in a virtual tie between Romney and Gingrich, 36-34 percent among 369 registered Republicans who are likely to vote in the Florida presidential primary. The survey was taken between Jan. 22-24. Rick Santorum had 11 percent and Ron Paul was taking 9 percent of the vote.

The latter two candidates are far back in Florida, in part because they have been concentrating on other states.
According to the latest American Research Group poll of 600 likely GOP primary voters, Romney leads his rivals with 41 percent followed by Gingrich with 34 percent, Santorum with 9 percent and Paul with 7 percent.

With the race tight, Romney's campaign may be benefiting from a decision to concentrate on early voting. The ARG poll found 17 percent of likely primary voters said they had already voted absentee or early. Among this group, Romney was leading Gingrich 51-39 percent. For those who haven't voted yet, the race was 39-33 percent Romney to Gingrich.

One of the benefits of America's long presidential campaigns, routinely criticized in other countries, is that it allows voters a second and third look at candidates.  Gingrich was gaining dramatically in Florida, but a second look is giving voters some hesitation. 

Yesterday, Gingrich conceded he had made a false claim, not a good development:

After nearly a week on the defensive, CNN's John King reports tonight that Newt Gingrich's claim about offering witnesses to ABC News in his defense — to rebut the network's interview with his second wife, Marianne Gingrich — was not true.

"Tonight, after persistent questioning by our staff, the Gingrich campaign concedes now Speaker Gingrich was wrong — both in his debate answer, and in our interview yesterday," King said on tonight's edition of John King USA. "Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond says the only people the Gingrich campaign offered to ABC were his two daughters from his first marriage."

COMMENT:  But there is still no joy in the Republican Party, with a widespread belief that none of the candidates arouses enthusiasm.  While many "professionals" dismiss the idea, a growing number of Republicans, in surveys, say they want more choices.

January 26, 2012