Newt Gingrich’s remarks on Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan, and then the pathetic apology that followed, pretty much dooms his campaign’s chances.

As you’ve probably heard, Gingrich called Ryan’s plan to gut Medicare “rightwing social engineering” and “radical change from the right,” which is “too big a jump.”

Gingrich was on target with his criticism, but his frankness so outraged conservatives in his party that he had to do some Olympic backpedaling. Setting a new world’s record, Gingrich defied anyone to quote his initial remarks, which he had uttered on Meet the Press.

"Any ad which quotes what I said on Sunday is a falsehood, because I have said publicly those words were inaccurate and unfortunate," he said on Tuesday on Fox (where else?).

OK, so he’s saying, “Believe me today because I lied to you on Sunday.”

So much for Newt’s credibility.

Newt’s self-destruction, along with the duck-out by Donald Trump and Mike Huckabee, helps Mitt Romney, at least initially. Romney, despite his own flip-flops on health care and the hostility he faces from the far right in his party, seems now to have the inside pole all to himself.

Gingrich’s stumble also may help Ron Paul, who has a highly motivated base of libertarian supporters. He did well in February before the Conservative Political Action Committee, and he electrified the Republicans’ debate on Fox earlier this month.

Gingrich also is leaving a large opening on the social conservative right, which Michele Bachmann seems eager to fill. Now she says she “may move up” her formal decision on whether to enter the race.

And maybe even Sarah Palin herself will be tempted to take a break from money-making to give it a go.

The Republican race may soon become more of a circus than it is already, if that’s even possible.

So you may conclude that the person helped the most by Gingrich’s goof is Barack Obama.

But I remain skeptical that Obama is going to skate to victory, even after he got bin Laden. The economy is still in the doldrums, and Obama’s negatives remain very high and his base is not exactly enthusiastic. He has disappointed progressives time and again, and you can’t make history twice.

For clucking Democrats, it’s OK to enjoy the Republican demolition derby. But the race is far from over.

If you liked this story by Matthew Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive magazine, check out his story "Baldwin Likely to Run for Kohl’s Seat."

Follow Matthew Rothschild @mattrothschild on Twitter