During Newt Gingrich’s surge I was reminded that despite the egos in our little community, candidates count a lot more than consultants and staff. Gingrich languished at the bottom with his all-star team in place, only to rise without them. Meanwhile, they moved to Rick Perry, who promptly plummeted with the all-stars on board. I’m not suggesting a causal link, just that the ability of consultants to change the course of mighty political rivers and bend campaign steel in their bare hands is more than a little overstated.

Newt’s current slide imparts yet another lesson about candidates – to say they are important is not to say they are always right.

Gingrich told supporters he was out to reinvent politics, to run “a different kind of campaign.”

Part of that difference is its venality. Gingrich is using his campaign the way he used his political career – to make money. Campaign events are treated as opportunities to hawk his merchandise. A recent New York Times piece captured the essence of his uniquely mercantile campaign style in Gingrich’s response to a radio interviewer: “At 8:30 tomorrow morning,” Newt reported, “we’re going to be talking about jobs.