If I was a Republican voter...

...and I heard Newt Gingrich complain about being outspent by Mitt Romney, I'd ask, "So why haven't you raised more money? Why can't you get your message out? Why can't you attract big donors (besides that old guy with the orange hair)? What's wrong with you?"

Raising money, like building an organization and hiring the right staff, is an important part of any successful campaign. And, like him or not, Romney has done just that. Gingrich, on the other hand, took a two week vacation last summer and saw his staff resign en masse. Entering the primary season, Newt had very little money and only a bare bones organization.

Some cynics have suggested -- bite your tongue! -- that Gingrich was never really serious about a run for president in the first place. He, like Herman Cain and Rick Santorum (?), was really just in it to lift his profile, sell some books, promote his "brand" and maybe land a gig on Fox or some other right-wing TV or radio network. But once Newt found himself in the lead in December he suddenly started to get serious. And thanks to the Citizens United ruling -- and Sheldon Adelson -- Gingrich actually had a shot.

(It's kind of like me: while I'm not exactly waiting by the phone for a call from the Cubs' GM, if I do get that tryout you can be sure I'll give it my all!)

People have asked me what I thought of the Citizens United ruling, the Super PACS and all the negative advertising in this year's campaign. And my response is: money has always played a big role in politics and always will. Those with deep pockets and an axe to grind will always find a way to "influence" candidates. And negative advertising has also always been around and always will. And, anyway, do we really know if all this money and all this negative advertising has had an impact? After all, Rick Santorum won Iowa on a shoestring (as did Mike Huckabee four years ago). And Romney's huge financial advantage didn't prevent him from getting bitch slapped by Gingrich in South Carolina.

As Romney has so eloquently put it, "politics ain't beanbag." (I thought the first Mayor Daley came up with that one but apparently it was another Chicagoan, Finley Peter Dunne.) And Mitt is right about another thing: the Obama campaign is expected to raise $1 billion and throw the kitchen sink at the Republican nominee. (One can only hope.) So quit your whining, Mr. Gingrich. Use the next month to raise some money; Romney's right again -- if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

(Readers of this blog shouldn't expect me to agree with Mitt Romney so much in the future.)