WASHINGTON – Former House speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign imploded yesterday afternoon with almost his entire senior staff leaving en masse, according to multiple sources familiar with the moves.
“When the campaign and the candidate disagree on the path, they’ve got to part ways,” said Rick Tyler, a longtime Gingrich spokesman who was among those who left the campaign. Mr Tyler, as well as Rob Johnson, Mr Gingrich’s campaign manager, Dave Carney and Katon Dawson, senior strategists to media consultant Sam Dawson, have all stepped aside. Much of his early state operation was also headed for the exits, said one senior campaign source.
Several sources said the mass resignation came at a meeting in Mr Gingrich’s Washington office. Mr Gingrich did not return an e-mail seeking comment.
Among the issues, according to sources, was the two-week holiday Mr Gingrich and his wife, Callista, insisted on taking against the advice of his top political staff.
Coming as it did after one of the most disastrous campaign launches in recent memory, it raised questions as to whether Mr Gingrich would be willing to "commit time to the grassroots", said Mr Tyler. – ( Washington Post)