ABC News reports on the troubles in the Gingrich campaign that led to the mass resignation of most of his top staffers on Thursday — and how it was rooted in a conflict between the needs of a serious presidential campaign, versus the continued financial empire of conservative activism that Newt and his wife Callista have been running:
Senior staffers demanded that Gingrich focus on pressing the flesh and fundraising and stop touring the country promoting film projects with his wife. At one point Gingrich was so focused on film premiers and book signings, one senior staffer emailed the team: “We didn’t sign up to be hucksters for products for sale”
But sources say Callista controls the schedule. They say she refused to allow the candidate to attend a Memorial Day Weekend parade in key early primary state South Carolina unless a film screening was set up in the state.
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“His spouse has demands on his time that are not practical for a candidate running for president,” said one former senior staffer.
