Newt Gingrich Makes Last Ditch Push in Tennessee Primary

It’s Tuesday, March 6 – Nashville, Tenn. 

The political arena looks forward to this time of year during the presidential election as candidates jockey for pole position in the race for the United States’ #1 office. The weather, here could not be any more perfect – temperatures in the mid 60’s and not a cloud in the sky.

However, one thing is missing: enthusiasm.

The reaction among voters in Tennessee as Super Tuesday rolls through the Volunteer State is a collective yawn.  No matter where you turn, there is barely interest in the 2012 GOP presidential race. There have been very few television ads that have played – and only one radio ad. Was this ad by Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, or the former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum?  No.

It’s the former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. 

In an effort that resembles Custer’s last stand, Gingrich has been the only consistent media presence in Tennessee. The only true ad that’s making the rounds in the state is Gingrich attacking Romney on being a true conservative and having strong core American values. Save for the exception of a visit by Santorum on February 24th in Chattanooga — a peek-in-the-door visit at that — it’s been all Newt.

Gingrich has been making the rounds throughout the state in hopes to corral a miracle victory that he received in South Carolina back in January – and play on the momentum of possibly winning his home state of Georgia along with it. 

Last week, the people who participated in a Vanderbilt University poll showed that Santorum is leading the Republican presidential frontrunner Romney by a 2-to-1 margin. It’s not totally surprising considering we’re in the Bible Belt. As of yesterday a CNN poll shows the race is considered too close to call between Santorum and Romney – with Gingrich making a respectable showing.

However, what is surprising is the opposite reaction from the 2008 Democratic primary around the Super Tuesday portion of the race. Among most people in the state, they are relatively apathetic to to the idea of who will lead the GOP into November’s race against President Barack Obama. 

I guess these are the dog days of the 2012 presidential election.

Photo Credit: IowaPolitics.com