Matthew Dowd compares Gingrich's populism to Obama's:
Gingrich’s message seems to be one much more aligned with cultural populism than economic populism. This cultural populism doesn’t speak to income inequality and tax rate unfairness. It is much more about a forceful argument against cultural elites such as the media and Hollywood who, Gingrich says, are, at best, out of touch with true American values (including religion and faith) and, at worst, are undermining these values. It is a values-based argument much more about U.S. culture than about economic unfairness.
And, so, we have a president who has for now chosen to run as an economic populist against economic elites (as he sees Romney), and the rising candidacy of Gingrich, who is running as a cultural populist against cultural elites in this country. … Gingrich’s emerging as the Republican nominee would be a historic, never-before-held battle all around populism. A true clash of the Titans, economic populist vs. cultural populist.
And in that fight, cultural populism has always won in modern times. But this year may be the exception. It may prove that even Bob Shrum can be right if you live long enough.
The Dish 