Rush Predicts Newt Comeback

Rush Limbaugh predicted Monday that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich could make what would be his third comeback in the GOP presidential contest.

Telling his listeners that the polls indicated Mitt Romney would likely lose the Michigan primary, the conservative icon said he wouldn’t be surprised if Romney’s demise gives Gingrich yet another opportunity to be frontrunner. Another great performance by Gingrich in a debate could turn the race around once again, Limbaugh said.

“I think there's a possibility of something happening nobody's talking about -- and that's the reemergence of Newt. Keep a sharp eye. Anything's still possible,” Limbaugh said.

“If Romney has trouble in Michigan... Now, Public Policy Polling is a very liberal polling group out of North Carolina. They say that Romney's gaining ground, and he could well be. A slew of negative ads are being run against Santorum, and they work. Negative ads have always been shown to work, and Romney's gaining ground back in Michigan. Of course, the Republican establishment would be turned upside down if he loses in Michigan, because that's his what, second or third home state? And his dad was governor there. ...

Limbaugh pointed out that a number of news accounts have pointed out that GOP candidates, to be successful in Michigan, would have to say they supported the auto bailout of Chrysler and General Motors. One reason Romney is doing so bad in the polls is that he, the son of former auto industry chief and Michigan governor, has consistently said that the Obama administration should have let the automakers go bankrupt.

“If Romney falters in Michigan, the guy to look at as perhaps having a chance to get back in this big time is Newt Gingrich,” Limbaugh said. “Do you realize there hasn't been a debate in a month? There has not been a debate, and look at what impact that could be having on the polls, 'cause there haven't been any primaries, either. But look at the impact no debates are having. So if Romney doesn't do as expected, then of course the Republican Party establishment's gonna panic and think, ‘Oh, my gosh, we need somebody new now,’ because none of the others are suitable to them. Including Newt. Newt's not suitable to them, either. But the debates are gonna kick back in again once we get close to Michigan and then we've got Super Tuesday.

"The debates will kick back up and if Newt has stellar performance. Given the roller-coaster nature of the results of these primaries, anything can still happen.”