NBC Reflexively Refers to Gingrich Wife as His 'Third Wife'

December 30th, 2011 9:32 AM

It's no secret that the media have given significant attention to GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's history of marital problems and whether this facet of his past will undercut him with socially conservative Republican voters, but on Friday's Today show on NBC, correspondent Peter Alexander went so far as to refer to Gingrich's wife as his "third wife" in a story that otherwise had nothing to do with his marital history. (Video below)


Below is the relevant portion of Alexander's report from the Friday, December 30, Today show on NBC:

PETER ALEXANDER: Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich, whose support has recently plummeted in Iowa, is struggling to keep his campaign alive, symbolized by this blunt exchange with a voter Thursday.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN IN AUDIENCE: Do you really want to be President?

NEWT GINGRICH: I think it's my duty as a citizen and as a grandfather to try to help serve my country at a time when I think we're in real trouble.

ALEXANDER: Gingrich is increasingly promoting his third wife, Callista, as a key campaign asset. Mrs. Gingrich appears in this new campaign video promoting music education in schools, drawing on her own experience as a musician.