Obama's Dream Opponent

Carl Hiaasen writes that President Obama’s re-election campaign must be praying for a Newt Gingrich victory, in his column, “Dream Candidate? Only For Democrats:”

If you’re a Democrat, here’s what you’re thinking as voters go to the polls in Florida’s Republican primary:

Pinch me.

Because Newt Gingrich — defrocked speaker of the House, original godfather of government gridlock, two-faced philandering impeacher of Bill Clinton, fondler of six-figure Tiffany jewels — has a chance against Mitt Romney.

If you’re President Obama’s campaign managers, it’s too early for rapture but not for a few private cartwheels. Newt Gingrich? Really?

Thank you, God.

Those of us who wrote off the old Newtster underestimated his ability to schmooze $10 million out of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire sugar daddy of the Super Pac that’s bankrolling most of Gingrich’s TV attack ads.

Simultaneously, we also underestimated Romney’s nagging deficit of charisma. The former Massachusetts governor is one of the few candidates in recent memory who can blow a big lead without actually screwing up, without a single scandal or serious stumble.