Former Constituents Unsure Gingrich Can Win Primary, Nomination

Turnout was heavy for a rally held by hopeful Republican presidential nominee Newt Gingrich in his home state Saturday, however some of his former constituents are unsure whether he can win next month’s Georgia presidential preference primary let alone the Republican nomination.

Gingrich served as Georgia’s sixth congressional representative for 20 years, four of those as Speaker of the House. In the rally held in his former district at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest he touted his congressional record.

“These are three numbers: $1.13, 4.2, and four,” he said. “One dollar and thirteen cents was the price of gasoline on average when I was Speaker. Four-point-two percent was the unemployment rate when I left office. And four was the number of years that the 1997 Balanced Budget Act balanced the federal budget. The only time in your lifetime it’s been balanced for four years. I might add to that the number two-thirds because when we passed welfare reform, two out of three people on welfare either went to work or went to school.”

Gingrich’s remark that Republicans’ only opponent should be President Barack Obama was met with rounds of applause from his supporters as well as his claim that he can “survive Santorum.” So far Gingrich has only won one presidential primary in South Carolina, Georgia’s neighbor to the north.

William Randolph is an engineer from East Cobb who cast an absentee vote for Gingrich on Friday. Randolph said he supports Gingrich because he’s familiar with his politics and conservatism, but doesn’t know if the former House Speaker can carry the Georgia primary next month.

“I don’t know that Newt is going to win the Georgia primary, but I decided to make sure that he at least had my vote,” he said. “It could be an outsider step in at the last minute to win the nomination. It might be Newt. It might be Romney. I don’t know. There are way too many delegates still to be earned in the primary.”

Despite having driven almost five hours to attend the rally, Katie Vines of Johnson City, Tenn. isn’t confident in Gingrich’s abilities as a possible opponent against Obama. When asked if he could defeat the president she replied “probably not.”

“Mitt Romney would be able to defeat Obama when it came down to it,” Vines said.

Andrew Young, a resident of Marietta, brought his two young sons Ethan and Micah to the rally at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest. He came to the event split between Rick Santorum and Gingrich and left still undecided.

Some of the rally’s attendees were more optimistic. Grant Thomas, a freshman at the University of Georgia, brought his younger brother Andrew, an Acworth resident, to the rally. He said he thought Gingrich’s former constituents in Georgia would be loyal to their former representative on Super Tuesday. Thomas wasn’t so sure about the Republican presidential nomination, however.

“He’s kind of behind now, but it’s been a crazy race,” he said. “Santorum, Cain, Bachmann, there’s always been a new frontrunner. Anything could happen. We’re really hoping Newt could get some support and win.”

Others left inspired that Gingrich could be the candidate to defeat Obama in the presidential election next fall. Diane Smith of Acworth, Ga. said she came to the rally feeling anxious about the state of the Republican Party and the campaign so far.

“I’m feeling better than I did,” she said. “I’m a little disheartened with the Republican Party with all the friction that’s going on because I am concerned what it will do as far as our strengths to go up against Obama.”

Smith said she supports Gingrich because of his views on unemployment. At the rally the former House Speaker proposed modifying unemployment compensation so that recipients have to sign up for business-led training programs to acquire new skills.

“That’s the only way you’re going to get out of this,” she said. “People have to be responsible for their actions. They can’t rely on the government. If they’re able-bodied then they should be able to have resources. There’s a limit to everything."

Several supporters agreed with Smith that Gingrich is the only Republican candidate who could defeat Obama in a debate. Linda King of Dallas, Ga. is the co-chair of Gingrich’s Paulding County campaign.

“He has the right message,” she said. “I just think he’s the best one for the nomination. I think in debates with Obama he’s got him packed right down.”

Thomas Owen, a long-time Gingrich supporter and Doraville resident, echoed King’s remarks.

“Don’t ever underestimate Newt Gingrich,” he said. “It’s not over with. If Newt can’t get it I don’t think anybody in America can get it. That would be the best thing in the world to see Obama and Gingrich debate.”

Ashford Schwall of Atlanta was a Gingrich supporter who thought he’d have no problems winning the Georgia primary and could “absolutely” go on to win the Republican presidential nomination. Schwall said he supports Gingrich because of his conservative views, especially about the environment.

“If I had to narrow it down it would be the whole concept of ripping out what’s bad and replacing it with what’s going to work,” he said. “One thing that comes to mind is what he said about the EPA. Just rip it out and replace it with the Environment Solutions Agency. It makes a lot of sense to me. They don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t have a clue what’s going on.”

Saturday's rally won’t be Gingrich’s last stop in Cobb County before Super Tuesday. He’s also scheduled to speak at a Cobb Chamber breakfast Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 a.m. at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

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