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Newt Gingrich's long goodbye - US politics live Newt Gingrich's long goodbye - US politics live
(40 minutes later)
12.48pm: Mitt Romney: wild and crazy guy, according to Ann Romney:
I still look at him as the boy that I met in high school when he was playing all the jokes and really just being crazy, pretty crazy. And so there's a wild and crazy man inside of there just waiting to come out!
At a wild guess, Ann Romney's idea of "wild and crazy" may differ from, say, Nicolas Cage's. For example.
12.30pm: Watching Piers Morgan debate with Jonah Goldberg on CNN last night brings to mind Oscar Wilde's quip about fox hunting: "The unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible".
With two geniuses like this, what's not to hate?
12.06pm: A year on from Osama bin Laden's death, pollsters at Gallup reveal that Barack Obama's job approval rating averaged 47% in April – his highest monthly approval rating since last May, when Obama got a bump up to 50% in the wake of bin Laden's killing:12.06pm: A year on from Osama bin Laden's death, pollsters at Gallup reveal that Barack Obama's job approval rating averaged 47% in April – his highest monthly approval rating since last May, when Obama got a bump up to 50% in the wake of bin Laden's killing:
In April, Obama averaged 84% approval among Democrats, 43% among independents, and 12% among Republicans.In April, Obama averaged 84% approval among Democrats, 43% among independents, and 12% among Republicans.
Compared with last August, when his monthly approval rating was 41%, his ratings are up among all groups, but more so among independents (eight percentage points) and Democrats (seven points) than Republicans (three points).Compared with last August, when his monthly approval rating was 41%, his ratings are up among all groups, but more so among independents (eight percentage points) and Democrats (seven points) than Republicans (three points).
11.50am: The Navy Seals who carried out the killing of Osama bin Laden and his associates last year are none to happy with the raid becoming a political football, according to BuzzFeed's Michael Hastings, who says he has "reached out to a number of Seals, both active duty and former":11.50am: The Navy Seals who carried out the killing of Osama bin Laden and his associates last year are none to happy with the raid becoming a political football, according to BuzzFeed's Michael Hastings, who says he has "reached out to a number of Seals, both active duty and former":
The frustration – or, even anger – within the Seal community is real, and has been brewing for months, particularly among a politically conservative core of operators. It started immediately after the raid, with questions among the Special Forces and intelligence community of whether the president should have waited to announce the kill to exploit the intelligence cache at Osama's compound.The frustration – or, even anger – within the Seal community is real, and has been brewing for months, particularly among a politically conservative core of operators. It started immediately after the raid, with questions among the Special Forces and intelligence community of whether the president should have waited to announce the kill to exploit the intelligence cache at Osama's compound.
11.38am: "Thank you but we still need your support," is the maudlin pitch currently running on Newt Gingrich's website for donations to pay off Newt's campaign debts. Those private jets don't buy themselves, after all.11.38am: "Thank you but we still need your support," is the maudlin pitch currently running on Newt Gingrich's website for donations to pay off Newt's campaign debts. Those private jets don't buy themselves, after all.
Sadly, perhaps because everyone has been fired, the donations page hasn't been updated:Sadly, perhaps because everyone has been fired, the donations page hasn't been updated:
Please consider a secure contribution to the campaign to help guarantee that Newt has the resources to spread his vision for America. Victory begins with you!Please consider a secure contribution to the campaign to help guarantee that Newt has the resources to spread his vision for America. Victory begins with you!
And, in this case, victory ends with you as well.And, in this case, victory ends with you as well.
11.30am: Newt Gingrich may be gone – well, going – but his impact lingers on. Mainly in red ink on his campaign's bank balance, according to the Washington Times:11.30am: Newt Gingrich may be gone – well, going – but his impact lingers on. Mainly in red ink on his campaign's bank balance, according to the Washington Times:
As the presidential campaign of Newt Gingrich persevered despite no realistic prospect of victory, the former House speaker spent lavishly on the trappings of a more-successful, high-profile campaign, spending more on travel and security in March than Mitt Romney did, records show.As the presidential campaign of Newt Gingrich persevered despite no realistic prospect of victory, the former House speaker spent lavishly on the trappings of a more-successful, high-profile campaign, spending more on travel and security in March than Mitt Romney did, records show.
In March alone, the Gingrich campaign spent $1.6 million on travel — $1.1m for chartered planes, $62,000 for use of a bus and $16,000 for hotels. On top of that, it tallied $200,000 for cash reimbursements to staff, plus $271,000 to Mr Gingrich himself, for apparent travel expenses, though the campaign has refused to specify what those payments cover.In March alone, the Gingrich campaign spent $1.6 million on travel — $1.1m for chartered planes, $62,000 for use of a bus and $16,000 for hotels. On top of that, it tallied $200,000 for cash reimbursements to staff, plus $271,000 to Mr Gingrich himself, for apparent travel expenses, though the campaign has refused to specify what those payments cover.
Oh, and the Gingrich campaign's expenses policy "has left 55 staffers out thousands of dollars," according to the Washington Times.Oh, and the Gingrich campaign's expenses policy "has left 55 staffers out thousands of dollars," according to the Washington Times.
But you can help! The Newt campaign website has many bargains, such as this – save $5 while stocks last:But you can help! The Newt campaign website has many bargains, such as this – save $5 while stocks last:
Official Newt 2012 White Mug.Official Newt 2012 White Mug.
Double Sided Mug with Newt's Quote "Leadership Now" on the back.Double Sided Mug with Newt's Quote "Leadership Now" on the back.
Made in USA!Made in USA!
11.19am: The delicate tightrope being walked by both the Romney and Obama campaigns over credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden sees Mitt Romney sound more positive in today's CBS interview:11.19am: The delicate tightrope being walked by both the Romney and Obama campaigns over credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden sees Mitt Romney sound more positive in today's CBS interview:
Of course the right course was to assassinate, execute Osama bin Laden and that is precisely what happened, and I congratulate the president for doing so. And I am confident and that of course I would have taken exactly the same decision, any thinking American would have ordered exactly the same thing.Of course the right course was to assassinate, execute Osama bin Laden and that is precisely what happened, and I congratulate the president for doing so. And I am confident and that of course I would have taken exactly the same decision, any thinking American would have ordered exactly the same thing.
And then on Twitter came this:And then on Twitter came this:
I commend those who planned and conducted the bin Laden raid a year ago, and I applaud President Obama for approving the mission.I commend those who planned and conducted the bin Laden raid a year ago, and I applaud President Obama for approving the mission.
Obviously the focus group feedback suggests the previous approach of "Bin Laden, whatev" wasn't working.Obviously the focus group feedback suggests the previous approach of "Bin Laden, whatev" wasn't working.
11am: Newt Gingrich is milking his exit from the Republican presidential race for all it's worth – and today's event in the Gingrich Farewell Tour 2012 is a video tribute for his supporters.11am: Newt Gingrich is milking his exit from the Republican presidential race for all it's worth – and today's event in the Gingrich Farewell Tour 2012 is a video tribute for his supporters.
In the video, the failed presidential contender sounds as upbeat as ever, and ominously promises to keep giving speeches and campaigning – although he will discover, as so many others before him have done – that without the primary spotlight, no-one cares.In the video, the failed presidential contender sounds as upbeat as ever, and ominously promises to keep giving speeches and campaigning – although he will discover, as so many others before him have done – that without the primary spotlight, no-one cares.
In the video Gingrich tells his remaining supporters:In the video Gingrich tells his remaining supporters:
I want to take this opportunity to give you an insider, advance notice that on Wednesday, I'll be officially suspending the campaign as part of a press event. I wanted you to know first because your help was vital.I want to take this opportunity to give you an insider, advance notice that on Wednesday, I'll be officially suspending the campaign as part of a press event. I wanted you to know first because your help was vital.
Gingrich is to make his formal announcement tomorrow and is expected to endorse Mitt Romney.Gingrich is to make his formal announcement tomorrow and is expected to endorse Mitt Romney.
Here's a brief summary of the rest of the day's news:Here's a brief summary of the rest of the day's news:
• On the first anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden, claims and counter-claims continue over the Obama campaign's representations of the al-Qaida leader's killing. The White House plans no public events to mark the event today.• On the first anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden, claims and counter-claims continue over the Obama campaign's representations of the al-Qaida leader's killing. The White House plans no public events to mark the event today.
• In a long interview on CBS's This Morning – in which Ann Romney described her husband as "a wild and crazy guy," and she should know – Mitt Romney offered unusually full praise for the decision to kill Bin Laden, retreating from his peevish description of the move as something even Jimmy Carter would have approved.• In a long interview on CBS's This Morning – in which Ann Romney described her husband as "a wild and crazy guy," and she should know – Mitt Romney offered unusually full praise for the decision to kill Bin Laden, retreating from his peevish description of the move as something even Jimmy Carter would have approved.
• The vice presidential "veepstakes" for Mitt Romney are heating up, as Republican commentators take to the media to advance their favoured candidates – and attempt to knock down those they dislike.• The vice presidential "veepstakes" for Mitt Romney are heating up, as Republican commentators take to the media to advance their favoured candidates – and attempt to knock down those they dislike.
• Barack Obama's fundraising event to be held at George Clooney's home on 10 May is likely to raise around $10m, according to Clooney, making it the single biggest fundraising event for the Obama campaign to date.• Barack Obama's fundraising event to be held at George Clooney's home on 10 May is likely to raise around $10m, according to Clooney, making it the single biggest fundraising event for the Obama campaign to date.