Amateur Hour; Primary Edition

Washington (CNN) -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich failed to collect enough signatures to appear on the Virginia primary ballot, the Republican Party of Virginia announced Saturday morning, leaving the longtime Virginia resident without a place on the state's ballot and raising questions about his campaign's organization.

In his own frigging state, no less. This gives grounds to the suspicion that the Newtie's primary bid was more about raising his own name recognition to ensure a continuing flow of invitations to give speeches at $60,000 a speech.

Which is a pretty good gig, when you think of it. One speech a month, added to his Congressional pension, and no wonder Gingrich has a good line of credit at Tiffany's.

But failing to qualify for a significant primary makes Gingrich's campaign look as though it's being run out of a clown's tent at some low-rent circus.