Newt Gingrich debuted what he called his “conservative dream team” in his big address at CPAC Friday. It was the one new bit of a speech that was for the most part a stump speech retread.
With music blasting, Gingrich strutted out on to the CPAC mainstage under a group photo featuring his most prominent conservative backers, including Fred Thompson, Chuck Norris, Michael Reagan, Rick Perry and Herman Cain.
However, those last two names were notable at CPAC for not saying a word about Gingrich when it was their turn to speak.
Their less-than-enthusiastic support for their chosen candidate at CPAC mirrored that of the crowd that greeted Gingrich. Three presidential candidates spoke today – Newt, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum – and Gingrich received the least enthusiastic applause of the trio.
When Herman Cain spoke, he did find time to endorse Joe The Plumber for Congress, though somehow he had no words for Newt.
The tepid response Gingrich got may have been because he gave a tepid version of his stump speech, save for the part when he mentioned his Dream Team.
“We have a conservative dream team,” he said. “Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Oliver North, a tremendous team. In the end, we need you. If we can be together, and all the years I have worked with this party, this is the year to reset this country in a decisive bold away. We need to teach the Republican establishment a lesson. We are determined to rebuild America, not to manage its decay. With your help, that is what we will do.”
North, though mentioned in the speech, did not make the above poster.Gingrich campaign spokesperson RC Hammond told TPM after the speech that North is not on the sign because he just endorsed Gingrich Friday.
“You don’t get on the picture after one day,” Hammond said.
