Newt's Neutralized Advantage

By betraying his need for audience participation, Newt Gingrich has effectively neutralized any advantage it gave him. After the last post-debate brouhaha over Gingrich's flat response in an applause-less debate and his demand that debates allow crowds to applaud, every candidate learned his lesson.

As a result, we are getting passionate applause in the wake of anything resembling any kind of heated exchange between the candidates. It may help Gingrich more than silence, but it is making it difficult -- if not impossible -- for him to be the only candidate whose statements elicit an outpouring of crowd support as he did in South Carolina.