Newt Gingrich wouldn’t have won the South Carolina primary if not for two journalists who served as his perfect foil at two debates in the days before Saturday’s contest, Juan Williams and Charles Krauthammer contended Saturday evening on FNC.
“I was expecting a check,” quipped Williams who had challenged Gingrich Monday night about comments “intended to belittle the poor and racial minorities.” Williams suggested he and CNN’s John King, “the guy who asked him about his problems with his second wife,” split the check 50-50.
A few hours later, Krauthammer predicted that “if Gingrich wins the presidency,” King “is going to have a gilded seat in the White House briefing room. It’s going to be an endowed chair, because that, I think, was the moment.”
Audio: MP3 clip of Williams and Krauthammer
Williams at about 6:23 PM EST, January 21:
I was expecting a check. I think I get at least 50 percent and then the guy who asked him about his problems with his second wife, Marianne, as the first question in the other debate, should get a check too.
Krauthammer shortly before 9 PM EST:
I think it was the defiance in his last answer in the John King question that was decisive. In fact, I think John King, if Gingrich wins the presidency, is going to have a gilded seat in the White House briefing room. It’s going to be an endowed chair, because that, I think, was the moment. That was the Reagan in New Hampshire.
