Former Sen. Trent Lott, a Mitt-Romney backer, tells CBS that his old colleague isn't electable and, to boot, isn't that great a guy.
"He knows how to touch the right hot buttons and on the stump he's good, you gotta give him credit for that," Lott said of Gingrich. "I just don't think that's what we need in a president."
When asked whether Gingrich could win an election against Barack Obama, Lott was blunt.
"I'm sure he wouldn't, frankly," Lott said.
Lott , who was in Senate leadership when Gingrich was in leadership in the House, criticized Gingrich's style, which he said could be "over the top" and unduly personal.
Lott also mentioned Gingrich's reprimand by the House--in a bipartisan vote--for improper use of campaign funds.
"It raises questions about management style, and it raises questions about why did he wind up with the result where you get punished by your ethics committee and wind up having to step aside," Lott said.
Newt's had trouble getting the endorsement of old colleagues, but here's why I don't think it hurts him too much.
a. Lots of GOP voters distrust the establishment.
b. Most of his old colleagues have been in Washington forever, and are considered the establishment.
Thus...
Their warnings are pretty much dismissed by the voters Newt is killing it with right now -- tea partiers and the "very conservative."
[Hat tip: AllahPundit]
