WASHINGTON — Newt Gingrich, the Republican field commander whose election as House speaker two years ago was akin to a coronation, is scrambling to retain his leadership post like an old-fashioned street pol.
In an effort to secure a second term in the speaker's chair, Gingrich is buttonholing colleagues, making promises and squelching a mini-rebellion in his ranks with Prussian efficiency.
House Republicans are expected to nominate Gingrich as speaker on Wednesday without opposition. But the run-up to the nomination has been marked by extraordinary public grousing about Gingrich's leadership and growing anxiety about another major hurdle he faces before he can be elected speaker in January.
Between now and then, the House Ethics Committee is expected to signal whether formal charges will emerge from its two-year investigation of allegations against Gingrich. Among other things, it will address questions raised by a special counsel about whether Gingrich misled the committee about a college course he taught.
"Newt is going to be elected unanimously because the vast majority of members recognize that Newt, in terms of passing legislation, has been a very strong leader," said Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.). "But if this special counsel comes up with anything, then the whole tenor of the debate changes dramatically. There will be some real serious concerns about whether Newt can lead."
Whatever lies down the road for Gingrich, it is clear any second term as speaker will begin on a very different note than the first.
"Two years ago, he came in on top of the world," said a top House leadership aide. "His ascension this time is a bit more humbled."
When he was elected speaker after the 1994 election, he was greeted like a conquering hero, the unquestioned king of the Hill, the architect of the brash strategy that gave Republicans control of the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. He was greeted with thunderous chants of "Newt! Newt! Newt!" by a GOP caucus that included 73 freshmen, all of whom owed their election to him, and dozens of senior members, who would become committee and subcommittee chairmen for the first time in their House careers.
When Gingrich addresses the Republican conference this week, he will be doing what no Republican has done since the 1920s: leading the party in a House majority for more than one consecutive term.
