"Nawaz Sharif is obsessed by the Turkish model and thinks you can only take on the military if you deliver on the economic front, " said Lahore-based analyst Mehmal Sarfraz, who works at the South Asia Free Media Association, an independent regional organization.

WSJ: Eyes on Economy, Ex-PM Leads Pakistan's Race

You get the feeling that for Newt self-doubt is when he thinks he may have only been savagely brilliant rather than furious genius made flesh.

BBC: Newt Gingrich and his campaign legacy