Newt Gingrich the Ronald Reagan of 2012

In 1980, after serving as California's Governor and after having run for President in 1968 and 1976 as the alternative to the establishment, Ronald Reagan ran for President on a platform of supply-side economics and a "peace through strength" foreign policy. Many during 1980 questioned whether or not Mr. Reagan could beat Incumbent President Jimmy Carter. He did, and the rest is history. President Reagan de-defined the GOP. The party has become more hawkish on foreign policy, more in favor of free market principles, and more socially right-wing. As Former Vice President Dick Cheney recalled recently, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's ambition from day one after being elected to congress was to bring the GOP to the majority. After years as a "foot soldier" in the Reagan era, Gingrich became House Minority Leader and later helped author the "Contract with America" which brought the GOP to majority in 1994 for the first time in 40 years. Like President Reagan, Speaker Gingrich faced a political environment in which intense debate occurred, but like President Reagan and House Speaker Tip O'Neil, Speaker Newt Gingrich was able to work with President Bill Clinton to get things done. After 4 years as Speaker, Newt Gingrich left an unpopular figure, and it was not until a few years after he left office that the public began to realize Speaker Gingrich's many positive accomplishments. The same can be said for President Reagan, for George H.W. Bush sought to distance himself from Reagan during the 1988 election cycle. In 2012, Newt Gingrich faces many of the same challenges Ronald Reagan faced in 1980. Like Reagan, Gingrich has been out of office for quite some time, 12 years to be exact. Gingrich also faces questions about his electability, but like Reagan Gingrich is good at debating and has big ideas. Speaker Gingrich's paltform is different that the Reagan platform in 1980 in that it is far more complex, though the core values of strong free market economic policies and a "peace through strength" foreign policy are at the heart of the Gingrich campaign as they were the Reagan campaign in 1980. Like Reagan, Newt Gingrich also will likely face questions about his age, Gingrich is around Reagan's age and like Reagan, has been married more that once. Where as Ronald Reagan began his career out as a democrat with a pro-choice position, Newt Gingrich has always been a republican. Of all the GOP candidates, Newt Gingrich is the closest to President Reagan.