Newtmentum: The implications are staggering

Column

Step by winnowing step, Florida Republicans have spent months adjusting to disappointment. Watching from the wings, they endured the collapse of the Cainiacs, Bachmann's self-banishment and Perry petering out. Would Republicans spoiling for a brawl with President Obama have no champion?

Put your hand down, Mr. Perfect Hair.

Now, just in time for their spin around the nominating stage, Florida's GOP finds itself — if pollsters can be believed — in the unlikely throes of Newtmentum, a surge-of-the-moment built on the candidate's gift for smacking news anchors doubling as debate moderators.

Yep, Newt Gingrich put a rhetorical 2-by-4 upside the head of CNN's John King last week, and the Republican grass roots perked up like they haven't since Ronald Reagan went all "there you go again" on Jimmy Carter. The GOP Nation took note, including its citizens at the Pasco County Republican Party headquarters.

"We're tired of Republicans who get all mealy-mouthed around the media," huffs Steve Janakas, 73, a retired U.S. Marine. Never mind the eye-glazing debate in Tampa Monday night. Janakas was still planting the flag in Charleston, S.C.

"What Newt did was what we want. It's what we've been waiting for."

For those just joining us, Gingrich described King's opening question as "close to despicable": In essence, what did he make of the charge by wife No. 2 that he sought an open marriage? Gingrich went on to scold King for trivializing the event, and the rest was thundering hooves and flying mud. Gingrich galloped to a game-changing win in the South Carolina primary.

Now here come the GOP survivors, minus Ron Paul, to the Sunshine State, where Republican insiders conspired months ago to move up the primary date in hopes of completing Mitt Romney's dash to inevitability.

Well. Republicans may yet resign themselves to the sensible, sturdy Romney sedan. But recent history suggests it's not going to happen until GOP voters have treated themselves to whimsical test drives of every other model on the lot. Maybe — maybe — it's just Gingrich's turn.

They sure enough like him in the little office on State Road 52.

"Newt has historical knowledge," says Anne Kathleen Clapp. "He'd run circles around Obama, even if he had three teleprompters." Clapp may get more than a few opportunities to test her opinions, having moved recently from Beacon Woods to Timber Oaks, only to discover, "I'm surrounded by Democrats!"

Rosemarie Pilcher, a home health nurse from Queens, N.Y., via Summertree, stopped in for Newt supplies but lingered long enough to sign up for volunteer duty. The former House speaker "knows his way around Washington," said Pilcher, 59, who likes Gingrich, warts and all. "Maybe he has made mistakes. What adult hasn't? But he owned up to them, and that's better than trying to keep them secret."

Pilcher decried a spate of Romney's "negative advertisements" as being "really rotten."

Which brings us back to the Monday snooze fest at the University of South Florida, and the creepy experience of Romney baring his (also perfect) teeth.

Even his supporters cringed at the former Massachusetts governor as a Doberman. His complaints about Gingrich, the longtime K Street "influence peddler" sounded like E-Trade Baby's whiny golf partner.

"You were hired by the chief lobbyist for Freddie Mac!"

"I didn't lobby anyone. Why don't you try reading the rules, shankapotamus."

This is the guy who brought us Staples, Sports Authority and Bright Horizons? The same guy who rescued the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics from bankruptcy and scandal? I mean, he must have, because Sports Illustrated said so. But, really?

Knowing his resume, we keep expecting better, says Dolores Ubben, a Romney fan. "He should stop listening to his handlers. He needs to show his real personality." And if we are seeing his real personality? Ubben raises a rueful eyebrow.

It's down to four now, and only two have demonstrated any ability to gain traction. Gingrich and Romney; Romney and Gingrich. A couple of months ago, pundits and pollsters alike thought Florida would put a lid on a quick campaign.

But now there's Newtmentum, and anything could happen.