The Fast Fix: Can Newt Gingrich resurrect his 2012 campaign?

Despite losing his senior campaign staff, Newt Gingrich is pledging to continue his GOP Presidential run. Can he resurrect his bid, or is he already dead in the water?

The stunning resignations of Newt Gingrich's senior staff not only badly imperils his presidential chances but also increases the likelihood that Texas Governor Rick Perry might run.

Gingrich has pledged to soldier on in the campaign though it's not clear how he will do so without any senior staff of note left on board. In a Facebook message posted Thursday Gingrich promised that the campaign would "begin anew" on Sunday in Los Angeles.

While Gingrich's campaign is clearly flagging, recent presidential history provides evidence that political comebacks can and do happen. In July 2007, Arizona Sen. John McCain suffered a similar staff exodus but managed to rebuild his campaign, win the New Hampshire primaries in early 2008 and capture the Republican nomination.

In the event Gingrich can't pull off a McCain-like political resurrection, his demise almost certainly benefits Perry who has said in recent days that he is thinking about running.

For starters, Perry's top two political strategists had signed on with Gingrich. Both men are now available.

And, Perry, like Gingrich, hails from the South. With Gingrich struggling, Perry would become the de facto southern candidate -- a major asset particularly in the early primary state of South Carolina.

Gingrich is on political life support at the moment. A full recovery is possible but far from probable.

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