Gingrich hires veteran GOP pollster

Newt Gingrich's campaign announced the hire of Republican pollster and strategist David Winston Wednesday, saying the GOP veteran would head up the campaign's survey research operations.

Winston, who served as Gingrich's Director of Planning when he was Speaker of the House, was a senior staffer at the RNC and did statistical policy analysis for the RNC.

“David has been a friend and advisor to me for many years.  He was a valuable aide when we balanced the budget, reformed welfare, and cut taxes during my time as Speaker, leading to the creation of 11 million new jobs,” Gingrich said in a statement. “I am thrilled to have him on my campaign team in an official capacity.”

Winston's hiring shows that Gingrich's staff may finally have the resources to fully staff up, albeit just weeks before the Iowa primary. Gingrich is holding substantial leads in most of the early voting states, although many have questioned whether he will be able to convert that enthusiasm into winning delegates without much chance to expand a shoestring campaign operation. While Gingrich has maintained that technology and progress make traditional campaign organizations unnecessary, Winston's establishment credentials offer a signal that the former Speaker is ready to spend in the nomination fight.

Winston praised Gingrich's record in his statement about the hiring.

“In the mid 90’s, I saw first-hand what Newt Gingrich can do to change the direction of this country.  Working with a Democratic president and a Republican Congress, he was able to create jobs through economic growth, cut spending, cut taxes, and balance the budget,” Winston said.  “Given the challenges facing the nation today, I wholeheartedly believe he has the experience and the ideas to get the country back on track.”
 

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