Today I was in Bismarck attending one of Newt Gingrich’s group’s Solutions Day meetings, this one hosted by the fine folks at the North Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity.  Essentially, Solutions Day was a series of 35 webcasts that the groups could watch and then submit questions about via the internet.

Fairly interesting stuff, but perhaps the most interesting moment came at the end when Newt was closing the event out.  He announced that he will not be running for President.  Which is just flat-out bizarre given that yesterday Newt was saying that if he can raise $30 million he will run.

One gets the idea that his announcement yesterday was simply about creating buzz for his group’s series of seminars today.  Which worked, I guess, but I don’t think the American people (or the media, for that matter) like being played like that.

But it’s just as well.  I don’t think Newt would have gotten the nomination, and if he did it would have been a mistake.  Not because he wouldn’t make a good President (he would) but because he’s unelectable.  If there’s one person in the world the left hates more than Bush and/or Cheney, it’s Newt Gingrich.  And with Newt’s personal baggage coming along for the ride on any campaign he launches, he wouldn’t stand a chance.