Newt Gingrich
Mitt Romney's most recent attack ad slams New Gingrich were it hurts a history professor most--right in his history. It's titled simply "History Lesson," and features a long, single clip of famed NBC Anchor Tom Brokaw, as he reported on the then-speaker's ethics violations in 1997. The clips served up a straight news report in which Brokaw says, "Newt Gingrich--who came to power, after all, preaching a higher standard in American politics, a man who brought down another speaker on ethics accusations--tonight, he has on his own record the judgment of his peers, Democrat and Republican alike. By an overwhelming vote, they found him guilty of ethics violations." Reuters

Newt Gingrich's 2012 campaign is showing signs that the former House speaker may pull off a win in the Feb. 4 Nevada GOP caucus, as preliminary polls and news reports show him surging in the Silver State.

Gingrich's candidacy was declared dead repeatedly over the last several months, but with his trouncing of assumed frontrunner Mitt Romney Saturday in the South Carolina GOP primary, news outlets and early polling suggest he may be able to sieze another key win in Nevada, the first in the West of this year's caucuses.

Las Vegas-based political TV reporter Jon Ralston tweeted the following from his Twitter account on Monday evening, I'm told Winning Our Future, the Newt SuperPAC, is inquiring about media in Nevada. hearing there is polling data showing him surging here. His remarks suggest that the Gingrich 2012 campaign has information coming out of the state that suggests it should focus efforts there in an attempt to win its crucial caucus.

And Paul Harris, a U.S. correspondent for Britain's Guardian and Observer, tweeted this message out from his Twitter account on Saturday: #Gingrich already setting up events in Nevada, according to MSNBC. It's on folks (and the political media cheer!) #gop. The observation confirms that Gingrich is indeed working hard to score a Nevada win.

Some observers, however, point out that a win in Nevada will not save Gingrich from eventually losing to Romney, who has had more consistent nationwide support and has more cash and organization across the United States than the Gingrich 2012 campaign.

Gingrich has no chance. Even if he wins Fla, there's no way he gets Nevada, California, Illinois, etc. Romney has enough $ to stay in, Tweeted @GeoffGlaab on Jan. 21.

But polls seem to be going Gingrich's way in the Silver State contest either way. An October poll by Magellan Strategies showed Gingrich in third place with only 16 percent, behind Romney and former candidate Herman Cain, in the Nevada caucus.

But his numbers are rising, and in late December 8NewsNow/Las Vegas Review-Journal poll put Gingrich less than 4 percentage points behind Romney. And his stock has only improved since that survey.

In between now and Nevada is the Florida primary, the first one to be held in a state of the Sunshine State's size and population, and a key contest as far as presidential delegates go. Romney may have the money and organization to win big in Florida, but the Nevada caucus is an altogether different story. Gingrich has the muscle to pull off an upset there, despite the sizable Mormon population who may be more likely to choose Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, as he is a fellow Mormon.

The Gingrich 2012 Nevada campaign seems to be hopeful that a Nevada win is in the cards for their candidate, as its Web site has the following uplifting message for voters: The Battle Born State will be an early benchmark in the battle for the nomination. As a tipping point for contenders in the early primary states, victory is vital-and it begins with you!

No matter what happens in Nevada, the state has reclaimed its importance to this year's presidential race, Nevada GOP Chairwoman Amy Tarkanian said Saturday night after Gingrich took South Carolina, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

This speaks volumes for Nevada's relevance. ... No matter who takes Florida, Nevada is vital, Tarkanian said. I'm very excited.

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