HispanicBusiness

A SPUTTERING NEWT GINGRICH -- bracing for a momentum-shifting loss in today's pivotal Florida primary -- will be severely tested next month as a gauntlet of contests in Romney-friendly states such as Nevada and Michigan could sap the Georgian's campaign and fundraising clout, political consultants said yesterday.

"For all intents and purposes, the Gingrich candidacy will be effectively over after a sizable loss in Florida," said GOP political consultant Mike Dennehy, who ran U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in 2008. "Mitt Romney will clean up in those states (holding elections in February), just like McCain did in 2008."

Yet Gingrich's demise has been predicted at least twice before -- last spring and again earlier this month after dismal showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. The former House speaker, who held several rallies in Florida yesterday, vowed to stay in the race until Super Tuesday (March 6), which features primaries in his home state of Georgia and friendly territory such as Alabama and Tennessee.

"I think he's going to find this a long campaign," he said yesterday, referring to Romney. Gingrich also sought to boost the spirits of his Sunshine State supporters, saying today's primary would be close.

"It's closing here in Florida, and I think the next 24 hours are going to make a big difference," he said.

Meanwhile, brimming with confidence, Romney dismissed Gingrich as "sad" yesterday, while boasting to reporters: "You can sense that it's coming our way.

A Gingrich defeat today could leave desperate conservatives howling for a last-minute candidate like Sarah Palin to step up and derail the Romney juggernaut.

"There is a vocal bunch of people that are adamantly opposed to Mitt Romney as the nominee," said David Johnson, the former executive director of Florida's Republican Party.

The Gingrich camp is scrambling for campaign cash to build field organizations in Nevada and Arizona, but funding will likely dry up if Gingrich can't prove he is a viable candidate, said Johnson.

"His challenge is having the financial resources to maintain a campaign. ... The money he raised from South Carolina is largely gone," said Johnson.

But Johnson pointed out Gingrich has climbed out of coffins before.

"If he can make it a close race, that re-scrambles the narrative. Perhaps he'll be able to convert that to the dollars he needs to live off the land and make it to the next debate," said Johnson.

Romney's camp vowed to continue its withering attacks on Gingrich.

"You're not going to see Romney go into cruise control after Florida," said Romney senior strategist Eric Fehrnstrom, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Gingrich is already staffing up for the Feb. 4 Nevada caucus, a source told the Herald, and while Romney and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul have better organizations, the Georgia bulldog still has the backing of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.

Said Jack St. Martin, a Nevada-based Republican consultant: "Sheldon Adelson has a great deal of influence and respect from Republicans."