Don’t think Oxford Union – think American Idol

We all remember the power of debates from the last general election in the UK, although many of us may have forgotten that they produced something unlikely and un-enduring called Cleggmania. Moving on swiftly, here in the USA the debates –there have been 17 and there will be many more – have defined the Republican campaign, made presidential dreams or shattered them.

Rick Perry, all Texan swagger, fantastic hair, cowboy boots and simple messages tied himself into one verbal pretzel after another in the heat of the debates. And that was before he had his “oops” moment and forgot how to count to three. The debates killed his presidential campaign and his lectern was quietly removed from the stage in Charleston last week after he threw in the towel. Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, once considered a frontrunner, tanked in the debates when he displayed all the aggression of a savaged sheep. The debates made him an object of ridicule. He quit.

But for one man the debates have been campaign viagra. Newt Gingrich, 68 years old, the “day before yesterday’s man”, who has had even more presidential runs than wives. The return of the Newt is like a rerun of the Avengers. It gives everyone memory flashbacks to a distant era and some difficult fashion choices.

In a country that supposedly cherishes novelty and surprise, this hardly fits the bill. But Newt is like Braveheart – with a history PhD. He has become the barbarian at the gate even though for years he was employed as gatekeeper. He has achieved this astonishing transformation because of the regular gladiatorial ritual known as the TV debates. In rare moment of humility and self appraisal Newt told his audience during his South Carolina victory speech that he wasn’t very good at debating. This is true in as much as these debates are not about using rhetoric –in the traditional sense- to score points.

Newt has not swayed any of his opponents or indeed the audience that his policies are superior to theirs. In fact when it comes to policies all the candidates with the exception of libertarian Ron Paul are roughly on the same page. They all vow to repeal Obamacare, lower taxes, get tough on illegal immigrants, beef up defence, face down Iran, cut congressional pork, slim down the government, slash the bureaucracy, restore America’s entrepreneurial spirit and so on…

Don’t think Oxford Union. Think American Idol where all the contestants have chosen the same piece of music. But Newt has proven that he can give the crowd the rendition that fits their mood. It’s like the Sex Pistols ranting God Save the Queen. It’s nasty and Newt does nasty really well. So well in fact, that evangelical female voters in South Carolina have swallowed their principles like hard boiled eggs and flocked to Newt en masse. Republicans who hate Washington and think of Congress as scum have honoured Newt with standing ovations even though he was the only Speaker of the House ever to be censored by an ethics investigation and consequently thrown from the bus. For Congress to chastise you things must be really bad.

Read more on the Republican race – it ain’t going to be pretty

But Newt is riding America’s wave of indignation. He has channelled Republican rage. He drinks blood, while Mitt Romney only sips hot chocolate. Newt is of the moment and by mauling the moderators in the debates he is like the Christian who has turned on the lions. The audience loves it. Richard Nixon first used this to great effect in his campaign. If in doubt, turn on the “elite” media, the liberal press even if the press isn’t all that liberal.

Newt, it should be said, even savages Fox news anchors. As long as you have a pulse, a make up artist and a microphone you qualify for his wrath. This works well for now. But the qualities that have allowed Newt to thrive are also those that could once again bring him down. Bombast creates its own bomb. Everyone from Mitt Romney to the White House is waiting for a very loud bang. But if much of America continues to be upset, if the economy continues to sputter, then all the logical arguments against Newt Gingrich may be short circuited by the emotions he fuels.

Follow Matt Frei on Twitter: @mattfrei