Newt Gingrich Slams Democrats, Calls for Early Voting Focus

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich blasts Democratic Party policies and urges Republicans to shift focus to early voting in the upcoming elections.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has launched a scathing attack on the Democratic Party, accusing them of living in a "fantasy world" and undermining the electoral process. In an interview on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle," Gingrich warned that the "weird elements" within the Democratic Party have now taken control, leading to disastrous policies that have alienated many Americans.

Gingrich specifically criticized President Biden's handling of the economy, foreign affairs, and the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that his policies have exacerbated inflation, weakened the country's standing in the world, and eroded trust in government institutions. He also accused the Biden administration of pursuing a radical agenda that is out of touch with the American people.

"The Democratic Party is in a fantasy world," Gingrich said. "They have no connection with reality or the needs of the American people."

Beyond his criticism of the Democrats, Gingrich also sounded the alarm on what he perceives as the complacency within the Republican Party's approach to elections. He stressed the importance of early voting and argued that Republicans must abandon their traditional focus on Election Day alone.

"Many Republicans will be shocked to learn that Election Day 2024 happens long before Nov. 5," Gingrich pointed out. "In fact, it hurts the Republican cause to focus narrowly on Nov. 5."

Gingrich cited the Republican Senate campaign in Pennsylvania in 2022 as a case in point. The campaign did not begin advertising until long after early voting had started, resulting in 40% of Pennsylvanians casting their ballots before the first major Republican ad had aired.

"This pattern was not unique to that race," Gingrich said. "Republicans have a history of failing to get the vote out early."

The failure to get the vote out early has a compounding negative effect, according to Gingrich. First, it means Republican turnout on Election Day must be dramatically higher to make up for the number of Democratic votes already in the ballot box. Second, it means that Republican candidates have not been able to focus on the low propensity voters who are least likely to turn out.

Shifting Republicans from their focus on Election Day to a more aggressive approach to early voting will require a concerted effort, according to Gingrich. He called for a "really focused, determined, and enthusiastic effort" to implement this change.

Gingrich outlined a specific plan for Republicans to follow, starting with a focus on "winning day one of voting" and continuing to build momentum throughout the early voting period. He emphasized the importance of identifying the first day of voting in each state, educating GOP voters on how to vote that day, and setting an objective to win that day's voting.

"To generate momentum, this requires full follow-up to all who commit to vote on Day One who fail to do so that we can win Week One," Gingrich said. "It also involves pushing hard to create a sustainable push throughout early and absentee voting beyond Day One and Week One."

By systematically following up with voters in each state up to their official election days, Gingrich argued that Republicans could culminate the early voting period with a strong position on election day itself.

"The Republican National Committee should establish a set of 51 Election Day countdown clocks that include early voting-to-election day periods for each state and the District of Columbia," Gingrich said. "President Trump and all the Republican candidates should begin emphasizing early voting."

Gingrich also called on conservative radio and TV hosts and key activists to quit focusing on Election Day and instead focus on winning the early vote in every state. He warned that continuing to prioritize Election Day would only undermine the party's chances of success in early voting.

"Every time we focus on Election Day, we undermine and weaken our chances of winning the early vote," Gingrich said. "The time to change is now."

Gingrich concluded by expressing his belief that a serious win from day one approach will significantly increase the likelihood of Republican victories in 2024. He argued that it is the right response to the campaign world the Democrats have built and that it will resonate with voters who are disillusioned with the current administration.