What a difference a month makes.
Back on Dec. 9, 2011, Newt Gingrich was sitting pretty. Polls showed the former House Speaker as the Republican favorite, holding a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney in some surveys.
Fresh off a Jan. 10, 2012 fourth-place finish in New Hampshire, Gingrich received some advice from a major Republican voice on Wednesday. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) suggested on the Laura Ingraham Show that Gingrich shift away from negative campaigning. DeMint does not plan to endorse a candidate in the 2012 Republican race.
"He's got great ideas and I think we need to credit him with a lot of the changes that took place," DeMint said. "I would say, Newt, you'e a great American, and get back on your positive focus, talk about your big ideas."
"That's the only way I think to turn things at this point," he continued. "So again, I would encourage all the candidates, now let's just be as positive as we can."
A new Gingrich campaign ad fails to line up with that perspective. The Daily Caller's Matt Lewis posted a video on YouTube Wednesday, showing a series of Mitt Romney's most damaging gaffes. While the ad has not been officially released yet, it is paid for by Newt 2012.
Ads aside, DeMint noted that it is not out of the question for Gingrich to make a comeback in his home state. In an interview with conservative radio host Mark Levin, the Tea Party favorite said he believes Mitt Romney will win in South Carolin, but mentioned both Gingrich and Rick Santorum as possible darkhorses for the primary held a week from Saturday.