Ed Koch: "The country is looking for a leader, unafraid to tell the truth, and many think that Newt Gingrich is that person."

◼ Newt Gingrich: Liberals’ Nightmare - Ed Koch at Newsmax

I have watched about a half-dozen events involving the Republican presidential candidates, including their appearance this week before both the Republican National Jewish Coalition and the Iowa debate moderated by Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos.

In the beginning of the early debates, I was not very impressed with any of the candidates’ grasp of the issues being discussed. Either my standards have lowered over the passing months — I was not really listening — or they have increased their comprehension of the issues. I believe it is the latter.

I intend to vote for the re-election of President Barack Obama. In the past I have said the only credible Republican candidate running for president was Mitt Romney. I now believe that Newt Gingrich is very credible and the Republican ticket will end up as Gingrich/Romney.

Gingrich is perceived by all as the smartest of the eight Republican candidates vying for the presidency. He is also the whipping boy of all the commentators on the left, and his philosophical positions and character are attacked with a glee and a fierceness rarely seen.

But my belief is that Gingrich is not suffering from the attacks. Rather than injuring him, he seems to be gaining new supporters and widening his lead. A recent Gallup poll shows Gingrich leading Romney 37 percent to 22 percent among Republican registered voters....