Bitter Pill for Gingrich on Campaign Reform

It's a particularly tough week to be Newt Gingrich. First his defense of Joe Camel turned into the stick with which the White House has been gleefully beating him since Monday. Today he was forced to back down on campaign finance reform. The Speaker wanted to prevent a House vote on comprehensive campaign finance legislation, but as Democrats came within the 14 signatures needed to secure a floor vote by petition, Gingrich conceded, offering to allow a floor vote. "Gingrich read the writing on the wall," says TIME congressional correspondent Jay Carney. "It looked very much like he was going to lose on this issue; that the Democrats were going to get their signatures. The Speaker decided to back down rather than suffer the humiliation of having this bill go to floor under petition." Oh well, there's always the tax issue.