Free Republic

Justin RunquistFormer House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a press conference with reporters in a press house outside the Capitol. OLYMPIA – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich impressed local Republican lawmakers at the Capitol Friday with his goal to create a new energy plan for the U.S. "We need an American energy program that makes us independent from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran," Gingrich told a crowd of reporters after speaking with lawmakers. The Republican presidential candidate stopped by the Capitol on his way to campaign rallies in Federal Way and Everett. Before speaking to reporters, Gingrich met in private with...

In the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, Newt Gingrich has a sizable lead over his Republican rival Mitt Romney. NBC reports: Gingrich leads Romney 37 percent to 28 percent nationally among registered Republicans likely to vote in the primaries; Rick Santorum is in third with 18 percent, and Ron Paul is fourth with 12 percent. There is a bit of a problem for Gingrich, however. "Though Gingrich is the preferred candidate of GOP primary voters, he performs the worst of all Republican candidates tested against Obama, including Santorum," NBC reports. Romney fares best against the president, trailing Obama by...