WaPo Editorial Writer: 'Newt Established Great Future for Himself as Democratic Candidate'

May 16th, 2011 10:10 PM

After his performance on Sunday's "Meet the Press," Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is taking hits from media members on both sides of the aisle.

A few minutes after conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer declared the former House Speaker's campaign "over," one of the Washington Post's editorial writers told "Special Report's" Bret Baier, "I think Newt established a great future for himself perhaps as a Democratic candidate" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

BRET BAIER, HOST: Chuck, Rush Limbaugh spent a lot of time on his show today dealing with this issue, and when that, you know, you turn to that and lot of people listen to Rush, you get a sense that it really had hit a nerve, not only the mandate but also the Paul Ryan part as he is defending his budget plan.

CHARLES LANE, WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL WRITER: Totally. I think Newt established a great future for himself perhaps as a Democratic candidate going forward because he did such a good job of articulating, repeating all the arguments the President’s been making for the individual mandate. But he blew himself up not just as a candidate but in a real sense as a Republican.

Is Lane right?

For those interested, Mark Levin interviewed Gingrich on his radio program today (audio available here).