Some may claim that Gingrich is an embarrassment and others may contend the former House Speaker is not a conservative, but for now, that is not the issue. This is about Mitt Romney’s inability to generate a passionate narrative on the campaign trail, despite his superb credentials.

Routinely touting corporate experience and one’s understanding of the economy while dispensing hollow phrases like "Believe in America" aren’t going to cut it, and frankly they don’t motive anyone to do anything. Romney needs to start by changing his message and focusing it on more “grandiose” ideas like curbing entitlements and dealing with the debt, as The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes suggests.

If Romney fails to acquire a new, more impassioned message, Gingrich is likely to continue surging irrespective of his past.

Read more from Ford O'Connell at Politico's "The Arena"