What Gingrich Needs To Say To Lowcountry Voters

There's still hope for Newt Gingrich's struggling presidential campaign as he heads to the Lowcountry on Tuesday. But it'll require something unique from the candidate or a different strategy.

Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney is still the candidate to beat, while Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, both of Minnesota, are each seeing progress in Iowa. Meanwhile, Gingrich is in the unenviable position of losing staff, support, and cash in the past few weeks.

Gingrich could find success by tapping his experience as House Speaker at this particular moment in the campaign. Republicans and Democrats are in gridlock in Washington over the tax increases and/or spending cuts necessary to address concerns over the national debt.

"If he has a concrete suggestion, that would be newsworthy," says Jeri Cabot, adjunct political science professor at the College of Charleston. "He's in the position at the back of the pack where he needs to say something creative."

Otherwise, Gingrich would need a moment like the one in New Hampshire in 2008 that reset Hillary Clinton's campaign after a loss in Iowa. "If he could let people see more of him," Cabot says. "I don't know if that means tears."

Gingrich has shown he can do the legwork in Washington to become a party leader, but he is having trouble connecting with voters. Cabot said it's similar to the issues faced by Democratic Rep. Dick Gephardt, also a high-profile House leader who struggled on the presidential campaign trail.

"(Gephardt) didn’t have the charisma … he didn’t get far beyond his narrow base," Cabot said.

Gingrich will be the featured guest at a Charleston Tea Party Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in North Charleston City Hall at 2500 City Hall Lane, just off of Mall Drive. According to the campaign, Gingrich will also be speaking at an electric cooperative event at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Charleston Place Hotel at 205 Meeting St.