Howard Fineman says Republican insiders are suddenly seeing the hot air leaking out of Newt’s balloon.
The primary reason: the Palin Factor.
Some D.C.-based establishment types were preparing to reconcile themselves to former House Speaker Gingrich, if not outright endorse him, before or after the South Carolina primary last week. But according to one such insider, who asked not to be identified because of her prominent corporate lobbying role, Gingrich fatally said on Jan. 18 — three days before the primary — that he would offer former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin a “major role in the next administration if I’m president.” That one statement scared the accept-Newt, Republican-establishment types. “That sure did it for me, and I think for a lot of other people in town,” the lobbyist said.
UPDATE at 1/28/12 1:53:29 pm
Public Policy Polling says Romney now has a 10-point lead over Gingrich:
Frank says: