Remember the line about Newt Gingrich being an oppo-researcher's dream come true? This might leave a mark:
What makes this ad particularly brutal is the degree to which its content is comprised of (a) flashback quotes from Newt himself (the Pelosi counch of trust is especially galling), and (b) criticism from prominent conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Paul Ryan. The spot's implicit question: If Republican voters aren't willing to back Romney because of his shape-shifting political opportunism, is Newt really the antidote? Its intended answer, of course, is Ron Paul, but he only appeals to a small sliver of the electorate, and doesn't stand a chance. Also, as Ben Domenech notes, the tactic of quoting Rush and defending the Ryan budget proposal is a bit rich coming from Paul. Indeed, he was one of only eight Congressional Republicans in either chamber who voted against Ryan's plan -- which even Newt has insisted he wouldn't have done. Still, this web ad is relentlessly brutal, and paves the way for similar attacks. The worry for Gingrich supporters -- and Republicans generally, if he's the nominee -- is that the material Ron Paul's campaign culled for this two-and-a-half minute video is merely the tip of a prodigious iceberg.