An Unconventional Campaign Method

This Washington Post article (linked in the title) discusses Newt Gingrich's potential to obtain a Republican presidential nomination. Because of sexual assault allegations against Herman Cain and Rick Perry's recent GOP debate gaffe, Gingrich is looking more and more favorable as a potential nominee. He is also rising in the polls, and therefore could give Mitt Romney, the only other viable candidate remaining, a run for his money.

To increase his viability as a candidate, Mueller would probably suggest that he increase his monetary expenditures in campaigning. However, because of his "underfunded and idiosyncratic campaign," Gingrich has been attempting informative and persuasive campaigning, as Mueller describes it, in unconventional ways. Instead of using traditional television advertisements to increase his visibility, he uses his strong stances and intellect in debates. Debates are where Gingrich is renowned to excel, and allow him to combine both informative and persuasive campaigning by making his strong criticisms of Obama and his rhetorical abilities well known. Because of his exploitation of the debate system, Gingrich has been able to circumvent Mueller's traditional campaigning model that [political success = f(dollars, positions)]. Despite his lack of dollars, Gingrich has been able to make a strong persona for himself for the upcoming nominations.