Newt's Eye On Ohio? His 'Non-Partisan' 527 Plans Session At Butler County GOP

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Newt Gingrich's American Solutions 527 bills itself as a "unique non-partisan organization designed to rise above traditional gridlocked partisanship." Others suggest it is nothing other than a clever way to raise money and mount a presidential campaign without openly declaring for office. Today, there seems to be some evidence of the latter.

The Daily Bellwether has learned an American Solutions symposium is scheduled for Sept. 29 at the Butler County Republican Party headquarters -- seemingly an unusual venue for the gathering of a group taking part in a televised conference "designed to rise above traditional gridlocked partisanship." After all, a political party headquarters is built upon and dedicated to the cause of partisanship. Non-partisan? Who's kidding whom?

Gingrich also says he plans to make up his mind on a candidacy sometime this month.

"Whether or not I might be a candidate for President is something we will address in September 2007 . . ."

Butler County just happens to be the home of House Minority Leader John Boehner, an ally of Gingrich in the early 1990s when Republicans came up with the "Contract for America" that ended four decades of Democratic majorities in the House of Representatives. Could American Solutions deliver a 2008 version of the contract? Butler County is also the buckle of SW Ohio's Republican belt, the counties that surround Cincinnati. It voted overwhelmingly for President Bush in 2004. Former White House strategist Karl Rove said the county was key to his plans for winning Ohio, and calls it the centerpiece of the 2004 Bush victory,

The Sept. 29 session is listed on the Butler GOP's September event calendar. Click the link and scan down the list and this is what appears:

"9.29.2007American Solutions 'Solutions Day 1.0' Symposium by Speaker Newt Gingrich - Headquarters - 1-3:30pm"

Gingrich has played coy about his presidential intentions. He says in a letter that he's holding symposiums across the country to focus on change. It is not supposed to be about presidential politics. But he does say in the letter's second from last paragraph he's going to make his decision about a race for the White House sometime this month.