Newt Caught Napping

Newt Gingrich isn't the kind of guy to doze off if there's a camera and a microphone nearby, but that's just what happened to the hard-charging presidential candidate as we was waiting to address the AIPAC Policy Conference Tuesday morning via satellite hook-up. 

An ABC-TV camera caught the former speaker making Z's as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was winding up his speech to the group.  He awoke briefly, said, "Listening to Panetta is not a relaxing experience, and nodded off again, according to ABC.

After giving what may be the shortest speech of his entire political career, the presidential hopeful said he understood there would be a panel asking him some questions, as had been done earlier for Mitt Romney.

After 12 long seconds of dead air, an AIPAC official told Gingrich there was no panel and he could continue speaking.  It was an offer Newt couldn't refuse and gave an abbreviated version of his stump speech for Jewish audiences.

You can see the video and read the full report here.