Posted on 02/14/2012 9:19:30 PM PST by Red Steel
TULARE, Calif.—Newt Gingrich is struggling to regain his political footing in the battle to capture the Republican presidential nomination, but none of that was evident Tuesday during a visit to the World Ag Expo.
The former House speaker from Georgia was treated like political royalty by the hordes attending the event. They broke from their routine to shake his hand, seek his autograph or pose for a picture.
Gingrich was gracious and patient as people crowded around him as he toured some of the exhibits.
“I like him,” said Adam Smith, a Missouri resident who is manning an exhibit on nutrients. “He’s always been my choice.”
Smith was on his cell phone to report his brush with political stardom not long after he crossed Gingrich’s path.
Gingrich’s stop at the World Ag Expo—which came after a morning stop in San Diego—was his first of two in the central San Joaquin Valley. Following his hourlong tour of the World Ag Expo, Gingrich headed to Fresno for a fundraiser at the home of Ryan and Wendy Turner. Wendy Turner is the daughter of Fresno Republican and former Secretary of State Bill Jones.
Gingrich’s Valley stops are part of a fundraising sweep through the state intended to refuel his sputtering campaign. Since winning last month’s South Carolina primary, Gingrich has trailed former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania who has been gaining on Romney in recent weeks.
Gingrich arrived in Tulare around 2:30 p.m. and he and his small entourage—which included security and handlers—quickly boarded a long covered trailer that was pulled by a tractor.
Along the way, Gingrich waved to well-wishers and reached out to shake a few hands.
Tulare farmer Mark Watte—a former chairman of the World Ag Expo—was Gingrich’s tour guide, leading him to different exhibits.
Gingrich talked for a long time with Scot Hillman, chairman of the board at J.D. Heiskell & Company, the Tulare-based grain and commodity trading business.
Hillman said he was impressed by Gingrich’s knowledge of agriculture.
He said both were filled with Washington, D.C., bureaucrats who make decisions about Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water allocations without regard to the economic hardships that result in the Valley.
“He had some good questions,” he said. “Ag is a world a lot of people don’t know.”
Gingrich then checked out blueberry and raspberry harvesters manufactured by Oxbo International Corp., which makes specialty harvesters.
After that, Gingrich took a look at some big tractors and wheat and corn harvesters.
In a brief question and answer with the media, Gingrich criticized water decisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and federal Environmental Protection Agency.
He said both were filled with Washington, D.C., bureaucrats who make decisions about Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water allocations without regard to the economic hardships that result in the Valley.
Gingrich also criticized—but didn’t totally dismiss—high-speed rail.
He said California must make sure its proposed project isn’t government-subsidized, is affordable and is “not just one more Sacramento boondoggle.”
The comments drew a huge cheer from the onlookers who were listening in on the news conference.
Until the very end—when Gingrich again boarded the trailer pulled by the tractor—he pressed the flesh and chatted up people.
That included Robert Arnold and his wife Tippy of Mojave Valley, Ariz., who pushed their way in to get a photo with Gingrich.
“Let’s get it done,” Robert Arnold said to Gingrich after the photo.
“With your help,” Gingrich replied.
Great post. Thanks.
Thank you for the great post on Newt. It is refreshing to read some positives instead of the incessant bashing. Keep up the great work!
Gingrich/West
After he screws up the traffic in West L.A. on Wednesday, he is coming to Corona Del Mar, in the heart of Republican South Orange County, to attend a fund raising Breakfast with some Rich Useful Idiots.
Oh joy...
Thank you for the great post. Means a lot to those of us who respect Newt and are exhausted in reading the negative comments about Newt. Keep up the good work.
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I couldn’t agree more. It really helps morale to good to see good coverage once in a while!
Loved the “with your help”...it made me smile.
Go Newt Gingrich! :)
It really helps morale to see good coverage once in a while!
sheesh! sorry ‘bout that.
Awesome! I believe Gingrich could do very well in California.
It is really good to read something positive written about Newt. It’s been awhile. Newt all the way to the White House!
This is getting good. We have Santorum taking Michigan and Ohio and some others. We have Gingrich taking Georgia, Tennessee, California and some others. I think we are seeing the major downfall of Mitt. The last two standing are Newt and Santorum who both camps could support either candidate is a good thing. Ron Paul I don’t even pay attention to anymore (well never really did).
Thanks! I enjoyed reading how relaxed and friendly he seemed to be. In spite of the media template about his temperament, I suspect this article is closer to the truth of it.
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