Can you spot the "serious candidate" in this photo?
As if we needed more proof of Newt Gingrich's fast dwindling prospects for his 2012 White House aspirations, Zogby polls confirms that the gay guy has tied him in a national poll.
The news comes courtesy of Fred Karger for President campaign that tells us the openly gay GOP Presidential aspirant is tied with Newt Gingrich in a newly released Zogby national poll. And yes, it's a poll of GOP primary voters. Newt might consider dropping out before he must endure the public indignity of being less popular among Republicans than gays.
The tie represents a 1% surge in Karger's support and a 1% drop in Newt's. Karger is also within a single point of "big names" Rick Santorum and Tim Pawlenty.
The question the Karger campaign now presents is, will Karger be heard at the Iowa Presidential debates to be aired on Fox News next month? Fox News released the criteria for its August 11, 2011 debate – an average of 1% in 5 national polls. Says the campaign:
“We’re almost there,” said Karger. "This is now the 3rd poll in just the past couple of months where I am averaging the magic 1%. For a first-time candidate, who has not raised millions of dollars, I am ecstatic about the results. Now we just need to score in 2 more polls and I will be standing on the stage in Ames, Iowa next month with the other candidates. As the only Independent Republican running, I look forward to getting away from the divisive issues and talking about the issues of concern to most Americans – jobs first, education reform and getting out of Afghanistan and Iraq now. I have been at this for 18 months and all that work is beginning to translate into support. We’re up from 0% just four weeks ago."
With his expressed interest in moving the Republican party away from divisive social issues, I am a little confused why LGBT Republican groups like GOProud and Log Cabin Republicans have offered no visible suport that I'm aware of?
It certainly would be nice if Fred had the opportunity to confront Bachmann, Santorum and Pawlenty to their faces on their relentless homophobia, on the Fox News stage.
Rick Santorum is apparently undeterred by Dan Savage's fresh salvo in their very public feud. He's still spouting homophobic nonsense and rewriting history in the process. I remind the former Senator of Dan's words: "You can't very well go by the name 'Dick' Santorum, can you?"
Seeing as Karger is now tied with Gingrich and trailing Pawlenty and Santorum by only a single polling point, I see little reason he shouldn't be invited, as those canididates doubtlessly will be.