I like Newt. I think he's an idea incubator for conservatives. He encourages creativity at the think tank level and can promote it effectively in the marketplace of ideas.
But, ultimately, there's no "walking this back" for him. He's the former Speaker of the House and an established conservative leader who speaks with a degree of gravitas not many other Republican candidates have. Despite his credentials, his presidential bid was a risky venture at best, and he had no margin for error, especially at the outset. His best gameplan was to, over time, build momentum on impressive policy credentials while muting his personal scandals.
Newt has tripped himself up on the very foibles he's been often criticized for: lack of discipline/impulsiveness. Viewing his crass attack on the Ryan Plan in the most charitable light, he's acted smugly as if he has nearly won the nomination and is trying to tack to the center to woo moderates. Because of his personal indiscretions, he's at a disadvantage with social conservatives. In attacking the Ryan Plan and calling it "right wing engineering," he just smoked the Tea Party caucus, budget hawks, and just about every fiscal conservative. Who's left to support him?
He has turned what should have been a strength (policy) into an albatross. Only Newt.
