N.H. Paper: "an enticing idea to have the former Speaker of the U.S. House going toe to toe with President Obama in a presidential debate."

Newt appeared in front Foster's Daily Democrat last week, which I covered here, and the paper had this to say today:

Newt Gingrich is (or will be as of about May 1) a fascinating candidate for president. He is a cup runneth over with ideas.

While far from making an endorsement at this point, Foster's Daily Democrat sees it as an enticing idea to have the former Speaker of the U.S. House going toe to toe with President Obama in a presidential debate.

...

Take for example, unemployment. Gingrich opines that those receiving some 99 weeks of benefits should spend that time training for new jobs. The result might very well be less than 99 weeks on public assistance.

Then there is public housing. Those who run public complexes complain that tenant abuse requires rebuilding structures every eight years or so. The solution? Allow tenants to invest in their housing -- painting, maintenance and even ownership.

On education, Gingrich talks about the School of the Ozarks, one of five working schools in the nation. Students graduate with little or no debt because they work their way through college by working at the school. Construction at the school is even done by students under the guidance of professional engineers and the like.

One aspect of Gingrich that makes him a wellspring of ideas is his impressive knowledge of history and how it relates to the success or failure of governments. He is extensively read and a student -- as well as a professor -- of history. He never seems to stumble when pulling passages from Jefferson and Lincoln. An author himself (Rediscovering God in America, among others writings) he cites the work of others, such as Arthur Brooks' The Battle, to bolster his position on the issues.

...

Win or lose Foster's looks forward to following that effort and engaging in that discussion [of Gingrich and voters].

Newt's decision will likely be the first week of May

When discussing his strategy for a potential campaign in front of the Foster's Daily Democrat, a New Hampshire newspaper, Newt gave one of his favorite quotes: "First, you win the argument. Then, you win the vote." It is from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Newt:

"The challenges we're facing are enormous. If you want to compete with China and India economically, you probably have to reform litigation, regulation, taxation, education, health, energy and infrastructure."

"We need new ways of thinking, and I'd emphasize it's not Newt Gingrich's solutions. We want to use a participatory model for public policy development in a way that would be very bold and very different."

That last idea would seemingly be modeled after the Solutions Lab that Newt created at American Solutions, where anyone can submit their own policy ideas.

Reporter Jennifer Keefe:

[Gingrich] cited a statistic stating 45 percent of black teenagers were unemployed in January nationally.

"That should sober every American," he said. "That's setting up social problems and difficulties that are just tragic."

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich hopes to raise $30 million for the primaries, his advisers say.

The article lists the goal of Mitt Romney at $50 million, Haley Barbour at $55 million, and Tim Pawlenty at $25.

It seems like Barbour's camp is not trying to manage expectations. That is not to say Barbour could not reach that figure, however. He is famed for being a great fundraiser, even enjoying it.