Gingrich draws thousands in Fla. while Romney's, Santorum's crowds number in hundreds

Palm Beach Post ^ | January 24, 2012 | Andrew Abramson, Jane Musgrave and George Bennett

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

If former Florida frontrunner Mitt Romney hoped Newt Gingrich's rise in popularity was a temporary blip, Gingrich's campaign appeared to prove otherwise Tuesday as it drew crowds estimated at 4,000 in Sarasota and 6,000 in Naples.

The size of the early afternoon rally at a hangar at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport surprised even Gingrich. "When they told me how big the crowd was, I was stunned," he said.

Then came the rock star treatment at an evening event at Cambier Park in Historic Old Naples, where the throng screamed with excitement as he spoke from under a bandshell with the American flag behind him and converged on him when he was finished, forcing him to squeeze his way back to his bus.

Those cheering crowds, as well as one of about 500 people in Fort Myers, showed one week before Florida GOP voters head to the polls for the Jan. 31 primary. Florida is the first winner-take-all state in terms of delegate, and three of four polls released since Gingrich's South Carolina win Saturday show him the clear leader in Florida.

Unlike Monday night's debate, when Gingrich frequently criticized Romney's political record, he made few references Tuesday to his closest Republican opponent, instead focusing his oratory skills and venom on President Obama. The crowds ate it up.

When he talked about sending Obama back to Chicago in November, some in the Sarasota crowd began chanting, "Kenya! Kenya!" a reference to the home of Obama's father.

Romney, meanwhile, slammed the former U.S. Speaker of the House during one of his two appearances Tuesday -- to a crowd of about 250 people in front of a foreclosed home in Lehigh Acres.

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

Go Newt! Newt.org

[Red Steel]

When he talked about sending Obama back to Chicago in November, some in the Sarasota crowd began chanting, "Kenya! Kenya!" a reference to the home of Obama's father.

Where was McCain to admonish the crowd?! /sarc

[deoetdoctrinae]

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[9422WMR]

I was out to eat tonight and the Chinese restaurant had CNN on.
There was the witch Pelousy spouting how gin grinch can’t win. This was followed by hear cruelela devil facial expressions. It was enough to make me Want to puke in my egg drop soup!
Me thinks a whole lot of the established class are soon to be kicked out on their butt.

[Parley Baer]

Holy mackeral! That is astounding. Newt is resonating with the populace. GO NEWT GO!

[I still care]

I was at my early voting precinct today, and while you cannot see how people voted I noted one scanning machine numbered in the 300’s and one in the 200’s.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

The Manatee Tea Party meeting tonight was abuzz with the huge turnout for Newt today.

It will be interesting to see how many attend Santorum’s rally at the same Bradenton venue on Sunday.

[Question Liberal Authority]

some in the Sarasota crowd began chanting, "Kenya! Kenya!" a reference to the home of Obama's father.

Yes. That is precisely what the crowd meant. It is a long standing tradition in American politics that one mocks the birthplace of the opposing candidate's father.

[ari-freedom]

If you’re in Florida, you’re going to want to hear what Newt has to say on space exploration. This is not an issue that just popped up once Obama decided to end it as we know it.

[Lady Lucky]

Thank you! I could use some good news right now.

[HerrBlucher]

LOL!

[sean327]

Newt will screw us over and sell us down the river as soon as he gets into office. Why can’t you people see that he is a RINO just like Romny, McCain, and Dole?
I will not support Newt in the primary. If he was to win the nomination I will vote for him, but I will have to hold my nose while doing it. I will also have to take a shower in bleach afterward.

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

"Yes. That is precisely what the crowd meant. It is a long standing tradition in American politics that one mocks the birthplace of the opposing candidate's father."

LOL!

Indeed. How vividly I remember the 1976 election when Gerald Ford was dogged at every campaign stop by hecklers screaming "Chadron, Nebraska! Chadron, Nebraska!"

Hank

[greeneyes]

Ha. Ha. This is great news. So far their attempts to bring him down aren’t making much impact.LOL.

[Belteshazzar]

In the meantime, sean 327, you could go to work for Nancy Pelosi.

[Belteshazzar]

In the meantime, sean 327, you could go to work for Nancy Pelosi.

[MarDav]

And of which candidate will you NOT say that about? I was polled tonight (for the first time in my life) and I was asked if the election were held tonight, who would I vote for: Romney or Obama? I paused for a second and then it came out, “Romney.”

I don’t like Romney. I know he’s not conservative. I know he will continue government along the same path as it is going now. I know he will not do enough (do anything?) to turn things around. I know...I know...I know...he has got to be better than Obama.

Once again, the GOP has assured us that we (conservatives) do not have a choice in this year’s election.

[lovesdogs]

Thanks for posting. Newt will be at 9880 W sample rd in Coral Springs FL tomorrow at 1030am. This rally should draw a fair amount of South FL media hoping to report on a bad turnout. I would love to meet fellow freepers there.

[biff]

I hear Chlorox works good, has some bufers in it so it won’t burn as bad.

[KansasGirl]

If Pelosi honestly thinks Newt can’t win, shouldn’t she want him as the nominee? As to the threats she has something on him,, if that was the case, wouldn’t she keep it to herself until he got the nomination?