The primaries in picturesMitt Romney grasping a confused looking baby. Rick Perry cradling a tommy gun. A giant toy elephant and Newt Gingrich. This — and more — is the 2012 Republican primaries in pictures.
Newt gingrich
Rundle12: the return of Santorum opens the Republican race
Republican candidate Rick Santorum may be on the way to either victory or a close second in the Minnesota and Missouri contests tonight, throwing the smooth coronation of Mitt Romney into fresh doubt.
Guy Rundle: Compared to these guys, Obama is Howard Zinn on bad acid
With five primaries and caucuses done, with party favourite Mitt Romney leading, and with the next four contests before Super Tuesday favouring him, the 2012 race for the Republican nomination is beginning to slip quietly away from the top of the news agenda.
Rundle12: Ron Paul beckons the lost boys and girls of Las Vegas
The sweet, sweet paradox of Ron Paul is that a large slice of his support comes from those who carefully and cheerfully disregard his foreign policy reviews altogether, writes Guy Rundle in Las Vegas.
Gingrich: it ain’t over
Despite being widely tipped to be trampled by Mitt Romney at the Florida primary, Newt Gingrich has assured supporters the Republican race is “a long way from being over,” reports Seema Mehta.
Rundle12: no one understands how utterly unconservative Newt Gingrich is
In Gingrich you see something triangulate between Marx, Mussolini, Toffler and sundry others, an investment in nation and species, an utter disinterest in the fate of the individual. None of his supporters really understand that, or how utterly unconservative he is.
Only faint hope for a deal with Iran on nukes
For a couple of months things have been looking pretty bleak on the Iranian front.
Rundle 12: it’s great to watch, this real pirate movie
Through the wide, night streets of Tampa came the pirates — tens of thousands of them, some in full regalia, tricorne hats and eye patches, plastic cutlasses and black velvet coats, girls in low-cut frilly white shirts and face paint.
Guy Rundle: Emergency Republican scenario includes another Bush
So it’s on. And if Gingrich wins he’ll take all Florida’s delegates, 50 in total, which will put him way ahead in the delegate count.
Video of the Day: Newt vs Romney — was he a lobbyist?
At last night’s Florida debate of GOP presidential hopefuls, front-runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich battled it out over whether Gingrich was involved in lobbying for toxic mortgage giant Freddie Mac.
Rundle12: down Florida way, Newt’s about to tear Mitt a fresh one afresh
They’re off the blocks in Florida today, for the fourth Republican primary (OK three primaries, one caucus) with a debate tonight in Tampa, and both Romney and Gingrich ripping each other new ones.
Rundle12: Gingrich’s secret weapon — Mitt Romney
This thing is absolutely on, and it may well go all the way to the last primary – June 26, Utah, which may well be Mormon Mitt’s ace-in-the-hole … or his last stand.
Crikey Says: Cue the Newt puns, the US primaries just got interesting
What was shaping up as a done deal for Mitt Romney, and quite frankly, a decidedly boring outcome for political junkies everywhere, just got interesting.
Fear and loathing in the GOP: Gingrich victory propels panic
Newt Gingrich’s thumping victory over Mitt Romney in the South Carolina primary has sent the GOP into the throes of panic, writes Paul Begala.
Rundle12: Mrs Gingrich throws campaign grenade at egomaniac man-baby ex
Newt Gingrich may not be able to get out of this one with his usual pious “I made mistakes” line, because this is so calculated in the telling that it reminds people Gingrich is a member of the elite he hates.
Rundle12: Gingrich on points in latest debate, but Paul lit the room up
Mitt Romney has sailed about as close to defeat in South Carolina as he is likely to, with a disastrous performance in the first of two South Carolina debates.
Crikey Says: Super PACs not so funny
The money sunk into super PACs might make Anthony “there’s more where that came from” Ball’s Clubs Australia campaign spend pale in comparison, but our own version of that particular brand of message management isn’t any less effective.
Video of the Day: Gingrich attack ad — votre nom est Mitt Romney, oui?
He’s a “Massachusetts moderate” and just like John Kerry he speaks — gasp! — French. Meaning Mitt Romney cannot get elected, according to New Gingrich’s new attack ad.
Guy Rundle: Pinch of piss in Sth Carolina as Santorum sells lunch pail nostalgia
There is something about Rick Santorum that gets under my skin, and it has nothing to do with his positions on sexuality.
Rundle12: ‘never has a victor (Romney) looked so utterly defeated’
Mitt Romney “won” the New Hampshire primary yesterday. But his now almost inevitable run to the Republican nomination has never looked less convincing, writes Guy Rundle from Columbia, South Carolina.
Guy Rundle: Romney fails to impress in New Hampshire
Republican Mitt Romney tried to be casual, relaxed and engaging in New Hampshire. It didn’t work. Crikey’s Guy Rundle begins his US roadshow in the bellwether state to report on this week’s crucial primary.
Newt: I’m coming back with a vengeance
After a smattering of attacks largely concerning his past as a Washington insider, GOP contender Newt Gingrich has vowed to respond quicker and sharper to any criticism hurled his way, reports Mark Felsenthal.
Race for the White House: what to watch for in Iowa
The Republican presidential campaign has already provided plenty of drama and entertainment, but things are about to get even more interesting.
