Gingrich Disses GOP Voters

During an interview a couple of weeks ago, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said that he might wait as late as next Labor Day before deciding whether to seek the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. His reason for possibly waiting so long? He wants to see if one of the other candidates "seals [the nomination] off by Labor Day." Whoa, Newt, come again! According to my calculations (with sincere apologies to Spock), Labor Day will occur more than four months before the first caucus or primary vote will be cast.

How could someone possibly have the nomination wrapped up by then? Pardon my ignorance, but don't the voters get a say in this matter? It seems to me that Newt has dissed the GOP primary and caucus voters, especially those in Iowa and New Hampshire, who pride themselves on the major role they play in picking a nominee. In those states, a gaff like that could prove more damaging to him than either of his divorces.