Posted on 01/24/2012 3:05:46 PM PST by Christie at the beach
Mods, please remove if double post. Safe Link.
http://htpolitics.com/2012/01/24/gingrich-greeted-by-large-boisterous-crowd-in-sarasota/
Newt Gingrich brought his rising campaign to Sarasota today, filling half of a hangar at Dolphin Aviation with an enthusiastic, flag-waving crowd that cheered his often harsh critiques of President Barack Obama.
“He doesn’t operate on the same planet as you and I do,” Gingrich said about the president, who will deliver his fourth State of the Union address tonight.
Joe Gruters, the Sarasota Republican Party chairman, said some 4,700 tickets had been requested for the event.
Gingrich said the crowd was indicative of the “grassroots, insurgency campaign against the establishment” that he is running in the Jan. 31 Florida presidential primary. He said his chief rival, Mitt Romney, may outspend him in Florida, but Gingrich said his supporters can overcome that advantage.
“I predict people power will beat money power,” Gingrich said.
However, Gingrich was also touting his own money-raising prowess, with his campaign spokesman, R.C. Hampton, saying the former U.S. House speaker had raised some $2 million through an Internet “money bomb” in recent days. Gingrich also attended a fund-raiser at Michael’s restaurant and wine cellar before the afternoon rally near the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport.
Gingrich was introduced by several former House colleagues, including former U.S. Rep. Bob Walker of Pennsylvania, who defended Gingrich against Romney’s charge that he had resigned from the House “in disgrace” in 1998. Walker said Gingrich received a “standing ovation” from his colleagues when he stepped down following the elections that year.
Although he accused Romney of hiring Charlie Crist’s campaign staff in Florida, Gingrich focused most of his critique on Obama, saying he had a “few things” to suggest for his upcoming national address.
He accused the president of being a “radical” and blamed him for the rise of the price of gasoline. He chided him for praising a deal to allow more off-shore oil drilling in Brazil while blocking efforts to expand drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gingrich slammed Obama for blocking the Keystone pipeline project, saying he was under the influence of “San Francisco extremists.” He accused him of promoting democracy efforts in the Middle East, while “appeasing” the Castro regime in Cuba.
“Let’s have a Cuban spring and let’s have freedom in Cuba.”
But the in-fighting between Gingrich and Romney was part of the backdrop of the rally. As Gingrich was on the stage calling for the defeat of Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the leading GOP contender for the Senate nomination, was criticizing Gingrich in the back of the hangar for his role in working as a consultant for Freddie Mac mortgage giant.
Mack told reporters that although Gingrich has released a copy of a contract he had with Freddie Mac, there are more details about his eight-year relationship with the agency that need to be answered.
“I think he’s got a lot of explaining to do,” Mack said. And he added those answers were particularly important in Florida where thousands of residents have lost their homes because of mortgage problems.
Clickable link.
http://htpolitics.com/2012/01/24/gingrich-greeted-by-large-boisterous-crowd-in-sarasota/
Leni
I wanted to focus on the positive side of the rally.
Thank you Red Steel.
ping
U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the leading GOP contender for the Senate nomination, was criticizing Gingrich in the back of the hangar for his role in working as a consultant for Freddie Mac mortgage giant.
I think he will win since so many dislike Bill Nelson.
Mack is good on some things though he follows the party people.
I do hope that you and your husband were 2 of those folks in the hangar. _:)
I thought the election is still in the primary stage.
Isn’t there any conservatives running against him?
We need to stop allowing the one with name recognition always becoming our candidate to run against weak Democrats, especially in election years when conservatives will be voting in record numbers.
Newt will need a conservative dominated Republican Senate to ram through the legislation just to overturn all of Obummers Communistic laws.
I was there.....It was a very exciting Rally!
We had over 4000 people at Dolphin Aviation today in Sarasota.. Newt was on fire about how he’d campaign against Obama and restore America.
He said he’d challenge him to 7 debates and if Obama refused.Newt pledged to do what he said Lincoln did to Douglas....follow Obama and rebut whatever he said.
I was impressed by his communications skills and fighting spirit! The crowd, which had many Tea Party groups, roared approval when Newt said, if elected, he’d do away with Agenda 21.
He also pledged to repeal ObamaCare on day one and get rid of all the Obama Czars. And he would immediately issue an Executive Order to build the Keystone Pipeline from Canada.
I was interviewed by local Ch. 7 & 8 and said that I was still undecided after Perry withdrew and I came to see what Newt had to say to help me decide. Also said that I was watching the debates and doing my own research.
Romney and Paul are not taking the opportunity to have a Rallies at Dolphin Aviation. Santorum will have one next Sunday afternoon.
Our County GOP Chair Joe Gruters said that this Rally had the most attendees of any rally during the primary race.
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