WASHINGTON // Newt Gingrich's victory in South Carolina on Saturday has blown open the Republican race to challenge Barack Obama for the US presidency in November.
Mr Gingrich's decisive win prompted his primary rival, Mitt Romney, to announce yesterday that he will release his 2010 tax returns and 2011 estimates tomorrow, acknowledging it was a mistake for his campaign not to have done so earlier.
The former Massachusetts governor and venture capitalist said it was "not a good week for me" and he cited the tax-return issue.
After months of resistance, Mr Romney had said last week that he would release tax information for 2011, but not until April.
That was seen as a time, before the South Carolina race rattled his front-runner status, when the GOP nomination might have been decided.
Mr Gingrich has changed that perception, partly with his effective performances in the campaign debates. His aggressive style turned the race around in South Carolina, a deeply conservative state, and he won by a 41 to 27 per cent margin over Mr Romney.
Three states have now cast their votes; three of the four remaining candidates have won one state apiece. But Mr Gingrich's victory Saturday is the most significant.
Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator and Mr Gingrich's rival for the Republican Party's most conservative members, has vowed to fight on, but his challenge appears to be fading. On Thursday he was declared the winner of the Iowa race by a tiny margin over Mr Romney but it has not been enough for him to build much momentum.
Ron Paul, the Texan Representative, is likely to carry on until the end in an effort to garner enough votes to influence the party platform that is adopted at the Republican National Convention in August. But Mr Paul's is almost a parallel race. He continues to garner a consistent percentage of the votes but not nearly enough to win the race.
Mr Gingrich, former leader of the House of Representatives, has been helped in no small part by a barrage of negative advertising targeting Mr Romney.
The central theme of that advertising questioned how Mr Romney made his money with Bain Capital, a venture capital firm. Part of that attack focused on Mr Romney's refusal to release his tax returns.
From the beginning in Iowa, it was clear that Republicans were looking for an anti-Romney. A Mormon, Mr Romney has had difficulty collecting the Evangelical Christian vote, a significant bloc in the Republican Party.
He also has suffered from what some Republicans consider a liberal history in office in Massachusetts. As governor there, Mr Romney passed healthcare reform that was partly a model for the controversial reforms Mr Obama promoted.
Moreover, he is accused of flip-flopping on issues close to Republican hearts, from abortion to gun control.
The only question was who could successfully harness those doubts about Mr Romney, a question Mr Gingrich's victory seems to have answered.
Mr Gingrich ran an astute campaign appealing to national security-orientated conservatives by touting small government at home and a big footprint abroad. He clearly is the best debater among the candidates, which is likewise one of Mr Obama's strengths.
Indeed, the super Political Action Committee (PAC) supporting Mr Gingrich, Winning Our Future, indicated it was ready to run advertisements in Florida arguing, among other things, that Mr Obama would be able to eviscerate Mr Romney in debates.
Super PACs are ostensibly unaffiliated political action committees that can spend unlimited sums promoting any candidate or issue they want.
In a sign of how the momentum has changed, Mr Gingrich devoted the bulk of his victory speech on Saturday to attacking Mr Obama.
"If Barack Obama can get re-elected after this disaster," Mr Gingrich told jubilant supporters, "just think how radical he would be in a second term."
By contrast, Mr Romney focused on Mr Gingrich. Mr Romney said he had expected a "frontal assault on free enterprise" from Democrats, but not from fellow Republicans.
Taking aim at Mr Gingrich, he said Republicans "can't be led to victory by someone who also has never led a business or a state."
Mr Romney still has a lot of money and the biggest campaign staff, which he will need for what is now going to be a long and bruising campaign likely to run through the summer to the national convention in Florida rather than effectively end in with the looming Florida primary.
But though Mr Gingrich had "landed some blows" on Mr Romney, Jeffrey Weiss, a political consultant in Washington, said "ultimately there is no change in the game. In the end, it's still Romney's nomination."
okarmi@thenational.ae
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Friday’s fixture
6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta
6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman
9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas
9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
THE BIG MATCH
Arsenal v Manchester City,
Sunday, Emirates Stadium, 6.30pm
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
