Newtmentum 2012 Continues Apace

After weeks of unforced errors and an unremarkable showing at Monday’s Republican primary debate, Newt Gingrich’s epically calamitous campaign for President started fresh Tuesday morning with one of the candidate’s signature stemwinders in New Hampshire:

Asked about the allegations this morning prior to a speech in New Hampshire, Gingrich urged an ABC News reporter to focus on his speech.

“I’m not concerned about that. The American people aren’t concerned about that. Try covering the speech,” Gingrich said as he left a campaign event. When the reporter tried to follow up, Gingrich got in his waiting car and slammed the door.

The charity, Renewing American Leadership, not only featured Gingrich on its website and in fundraising letters, it also paid $220,000 over two years to one of Gingrich’s for-profit companies, Gingrich Communications. It purchased cases of Gingrich’s books and bought up copies of DVDs produced by another of the former House speaker’s entities, Gingrich Productions.

“The spirit of operating a non-profit organization is to work for the public good regardless of the politics that are involved,” said Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, in an interview with ABC News. “I believe it violates that spirit.”

A spokesman says reporters “did not find any activity that was not fully in accordance with the law.” I guess there’s always tomorrow.

Related Topics: 2012, gop, Newt Gingrich
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