He’s trying mighty hard. On the morality front, Gingrich often uses a simple template to deflect criticism: Public repentance that appeals to a forgiving Christian God; a practical attitude that paints personal problems as petty compared to bigger national issues; and a hard drive to woo evangelical conservatives, with financial and strategic support for their causes.
His strategy seems to be paying off. “I think he’s just excellent,” said Pastor Brad Sherman, who leads Solid Rock Christian Church in Coralville, Iowa.
“Everybody brings up his past, but he’s very open about that, and God is forgiving.”
Still, Lichtman says Gingrich can’t overcome his faults.
“He’s a highly polarizing figure,” he says. “They sometimes get nominated, but they never win.”
