Posted on 01/29/2012 2:39:26 PM PST by mdittmar
LUTZ, Fla. - Accompanying the former Speaker of the House to morning service at Idlewild Baptist Church was former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.
Newt Gingrich, with the strength of his recent victory in South Carolina's primary and endorsement from former rival Herman Cain, attended Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Fla. on Sunday.
Accompanying the former Speaker of the House was former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.
Following the church service, Gingrich spoke for a few minutes to media members waiting outside.
"We were delighted this week to be first by a significant margin in three consecutive national polls," said Gingrich. "I'm delighted that Herman Cain endorsed me last night. He will join Michael Reagan and others who will campaign with me on Monday doing a fly around. I thought it was tremendous to be here today on Sanctity of Life Sunday and it's very important as a pro-life candidate to be here and express solidarity with all the people across Florida who are committed to life. I believe deeply in the sanctity of life."
Of course, Gingrich didn't pass up the opportunity to mention his recent surge in several polls.
"I think that the election will be substantially closer than a few polls that came out this morning," Gingrich pointed out. "T noticed that 48 hours ago, there was another poll that came out that showed us tied. The most significant thing in both the polls this morning is that when you add the two conservatives together, you clearly beat Romney. I think Romney's got a real challenge in getting a majority at the convention - and we will go all the way to the convention."
He also made sure to take a swipe at main opponent, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
"I believe the Republican party will not nominate a pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-tax increase moderate from Massachusetts," said Gingrich. "They will not nominate somebody who raises millions from Wall Street to run ads that are false, so I think this is a straight-up contest for the next four to five weeks between grass root Republicans and people like Governor (Sarah) Palin who wrote a very powerful essay two days ago, Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who made very strong statements yesterday... The things that Rush Limbaugh said where he just tore apart the absolute falsehoods that were written about me by one of Romney's surrogates."
Gingrich insists his campaign will not end until the Republican National Convention this August in Tampa.
"I have had a long record as a very hard-hitting Reagan conservative, and the idea that that record would be deliberately falsified by a Massachusetts moderate using money from Wall Street to the very companies who are getting money from the federal government is really about as big of an outrage as I've had in my career," he said. "I look forward to the next couple of weeks. This debate is going to go on. It's going to get clearer, more decisive, and I think what we're doing is very different. There's a reason why the New York and Washington establishments oppose me. I would genuinely change Washington. Romney would manage the decay."
In response to his recent comments during a GOP debate on the future of the space program, Gingrich emphasized the contrast between himself and Romney.
"Take the example of space," said Gingrich. "Here's a guy who's running for president for six years whose sum total is to go to the Space Coast and say, 'You know, I would appoint a commission who would advise me on whether or not I would do something.' Think about that. This isn't leadership. I went there and gave the boldest explanation of going into space since John F. Kennedy in May of 1961. I believe in an America of big solutions, big ideas. I believe that if we unleash the American people, we can build the American dream. I am prepared to give every young American a personal Social Security savings account. This is going to be a campaign that were are going to force back onto the fundamental issues, despite every effort of Governor Romney to make it a campaign of negative ads."
too late :( he should of slammed him during the last two debates, but instead wanted to play mr nice guy and in the process managed to make Santorum look good by comparison which stopped Santorum’s implosion which robbed Newt of valuable support he needed to win in Florida.
Now we are heading into February where Romney has a string of friendly states that will be nearly impossible for Newt to win in with Santorum still sucking 10-15 point away.
Basically, until Santorum drops out or until Super Tuesday this is the Romney show.
Santorum is going to be to blame if we end up with Romney. There’s no way Santorum can get the nomination so if he stays in I will consider that it was intentional. I would also say the same of his supporters. They need to know that voting for Santorum is basically a vote for Mitt.
Looking forward to the Republican National Convention this August.
Santorum’s stock is in the toilet. His arrogance is either clinically proportioned, or he is the Romney buffer tool to squelch Newt. No other explanations are left, and Florida was the last stand. Short of chaos in the streets, it will be a long slog of delusion to think this can be reversed, if Romney wins.
Newt said himself on the bus with Greta that IF it is close he will go all the way to the convention. That would mean within 8 points at the most, imho. But a double digit win by Romney is curtains if Newt can not take the conservative South.
Best I hope for is a crack up and a reallignment of the Republican Party at the convention. Ron Paul will be trying to make sure that happens for his own puposes.
yep, that’s what people don’t get. Even if Gingrich dropped out and endorsed Santorum, Santorum would still lose. Only Newt can beat Romney. But he can only do it if Santorum gets out of the way.
I agree!!! Newt had Romney, but......then for some unknown reason, Newt lost his MoJo at the two most crucial debates!!! What Newt should have done, is drop the “Bain & Tax Attacks” and destroy Romney with an unending barrage of Conservative grand ideas and programs to save this very nation. But...he let Romney get the best of him and handed a win to Rick Santorum with but a whimper!!!
Now.....he can still pull it out (Newt, that is) if throughout tomorrow, Monday, he insistantly hammers home his grand plan for America and its future!!! Romney was dead wrong on the NASA issue. We can afford it!!! Just kill off the postal service, handing it off to FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. and abolish the Department of Education!!! I can assure you the folks working on NASA projects, coupled with private business inputs will create thousands of high paying technical jobs and great innovations and applications that will insure our growth for many years!!!
These govenment waste departments create nothing positive job wise, other then ....dependence on Big Brother Obama, a bonafide member of the Muslim Brotherhood!!! We better get cooking, folks, time is running out!!! Yes, Newt screwed up, but...everybody does, its human!!! Get out there and vote!!! I really do not think you good folks realize what is at stake here, if Obama or....”dirt bag” ilk like him, get a second term to really finish America off!!!
If Newt wins Florida, it will be very good.
If not, he goes on to the convention anyway. The good thing about this is that Romney’s negatives will become more public over time.
Just like Obama, the only way Romney can get enough votes to win the general election is by hiding most of the truth about himself.
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