GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich's campaign setbacks continue in his home state of Virginia, of all places.
The former House speaker made a last-ditch effort but failed to submit the 10,000 signatures necessary for a spot on the state's March 6 primary ballot.
"Only a failed system excludes four out of the six major candidates seeking access to the ballot," said Gingrich campaign manager Michael Krull. "Voters deserve the right to vote for any top contender, especially leading candidates."
Mitt Romney and Ron Paul were the only two candidates to collect enough signatures to make the ballot. Texas Gov. Rick Perry also failed to meet the 10,000-signature requirement.
Gingrich's campaign blamed the state's primary rules for this blow to his front-running campaign. Earlier in the week, he'd claimed that he would have enough signatures to appear on the ballot. He will now have to depend on write-in votes in the primary.
If there is one thing we can all say we have come to expect from Republican presidential candidates, it's ineptitude — from Rick Perry's debate flubs to Herman Cain's foreign policy gaffes to Mitt Romney's flip-flopping. The fact that Gingrich didn't qualify in the state he lives in shouldn't come as a surprise; it should be expected.
Read more at the Daily News.