A Day That Will Live in Infamy...for Newt and his Campaign at Least

It would seem that even a major setback like not being able to qualify for the Virginia presidential ballot is going to deter Newt from winning the 2012 nomination. Comparing it to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, his campaign manager has stated that they will soldier on. Gotta admire the guy's guts. It's why I've thrown my lot in with him to win the nomination after the unfortunate rise and fall of first Michelle Bachmann, then Rick Perry, and lastly Herman Cain. Regular readers will no doubt realize that I was somewhat torn between Bachmann and Cain, until the Gardasil comment from Bachmann and the bogus sexual harassment allegations concerning Cain knocked them both, for all intents and purposes, out of the running. If for some reason the link doesn't work, here's the facebook note in its entirety.

By now you've likely heard that our effort to gain access to the primary ballot in Virginia was not successful. This was not due to a lack of effort by our volunteers, but the cumbersome process in Virginia.

We are exploring alternate methods to compete in Virginia - stay tuned.

Going forward, we will be as in-front of the process as possible and with the help of our grassroots volunteers we will make all other deadlines.

Newt and I have talked three or four times today and he stated that this is not catastrophic - we will continue to learn and grow. Remember that it was only a few months ago that pundits and the press declared us dead after the paid consultants left. They declared that the decision not to compete in the Ames Straw Poll would mean that Iowans would ignore us. Some will again state that this is fatal.

Newt and I agreed that the analogy is December 1941: We have experienced an unexpected set-back, but we will re-group and re-focus with increased determination, commitment and positive action. Throughout the next months there will be ups and downs; there will be successes and failures; there will be easy victories and difficult days - but in the end we will stand victorious.

To help achieve that outcome we each need to spend the next 24 hours enjoying our families and friends as much as possible. Enjoy their company. Be grateful for them. Gather strength from them. The promise of a better future for our family and friends is the reason we are committed to rebuilding the America we love.

May the spirit of the season fill each of you. Merry Christmas.

Michael Krull
National Campaign Director

The analogy fits quite well, I think. It caught them by surprise, and it's put their plans in a place that they didn't think they were going to be. Some of the commenters on the thread, however, are a little less than cordial. As mentioned above in the letter, the campaign manager calls the snafu a setback. But it seems that some don't appreciate the analogy. here are a few choice tidbits:

 Pitfuful. Newt, if your team can't accomplish this administrative task, how could your administration deal with the real challenges that face the president?

Perhaps we should change the law just for your campaign? You are a part of the failed system if you can not follow the rules. It clearly says that write-in ballots will not be counted so why would you pursue this? These laws were written by the people and for the people and that includes you. Do not stoop to the democrats level and try to change the rules to suit your present needs.

Yeah you not getting on the Virginia ballot is just like Dec.7,1941. I didn't get all I wanted for xmas, now I know how the families of that 9/11 thing felt.

No you idiot, it's not like Pearl Harbor. It's called a horrendous ground game who doesn't know wtf it's doing. Why don't you just head to the moon and start your lunar colony already or something?

Honestly, people. This is not the time to insult a man just for making a mistake. And the comparison isn't in the least distasteful. Not that it matters in the slightest. For all those who think Virginia is going to make all the difference, it won't. It's one state among fifty. Newt still has 49 more ballots to try for. That being said, there are other ways to get on the ballot, I'm sure, though I admit I don't know that much about how things work in Virginia. Regardless, Newt isn't done yet. Don't count him out.