Gingrich, Ahead in Polls, Is Still Selling Books

By TRIP GABRIEL
NYT

Even as he widens his lead in the polls, Newt Gingrich spends substantial time on an activity that earlier, as a back-of-the-pack candidate, raised questions about his ultimate motive — selling and signing $25 copies of his books.

As his primary foe, Mitt Romney, and the White House intensify their efforts to negatively define Mr. Gingrich, his sole public event on Friday is at a book store in Washington. On Saturday he flies to Des Moines for a televised Republican debate but plans to squeeze in an afternoon book-signing.

Experienced campaign strategists cannot recall a top-tier contender devoting so much time to pitching products while seeking the White House. Mitt Romney, who also has a book out, has never sold it while stumping, his campaign said. President Obama, a best-selling author in 2007 and 2008, did not incorporate sales events into campaign appearances, according to a spokesman for his re-election committee.

Mr. Gingrich’s devotion to book-selling, Republican strategists said, raises questions about the propriety of a candidate who is generating personal income while seeking the White House, as well as whether he is making the optimum use of limited campaign time.

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