Campaign staff abandons Gingrich

( Scott Olson / Getty Images / June 9, 2011 )

The top staff of Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign abandoned their candidate in June 2011 in a group resignation that followed a series of disagreements over the former House speaker's commitment to the GOP race. Gingrich had come under fire for criticizing the House GOP's proposal to replace Medicare with a voucher plan and for having a credit line of as much as $500,000 at Tiffany & Co. for jewelry for his wife, Callista. And, as competitors scoured the early voting states, Gingrich took off for a two-week cruise in Greece. Some observers said the exodus essentially ended his candidacy, but Gingrich posted an announcement on Facebook pledging to continue his presidential bid.