Newt Gingrich holds rally in Savannah
Photos by Kakky Dye
Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich visited Savannah today, rallying support for the state’s upcoming primary election on March 6.
The crowd on Savannah’s Southside ran the gamut from high school students to longtime supporters.
The former speaker focused on welfare, Savannah’s ports and rising gas prices.
District captured the highlights from today’s rally. Listen below for full coverage.
View the transcript
- Gingrich rallied a crowd of supporters for the upcoming primary election on March 6.
Savannahians sported stickers and buttons in support of the presidential hopeful.
But some supporters were ready with signs of their own.
Gingrich spoke on ports, welfare reform and high gas prices.
Gingrich greeted and took photos with Georgia supporters after the rally.
Gingrich was joined by his wife Callista on stage.
Crowds stuck around in hopes of meeting the former House speaker.
Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich visited Savannah today, rallying support for the state’s upcoming primary election on Tuesday.
The crowd on Savannah’s Southside ran the gamut from high school students to longtime supporters.
The former House Speaker focused on welfare, Savannah’s ports and rising gas prices. But before Gingrich came on stage, Savannahians mingled over issues on their mind.
Rachel Land, a 17-year-old Savannah Country Day School senior, plans to vote in the presidential election this fall.
[LAND] “We’re really interested still being students in education and a candidate’s view on education. And y’know everyone has there own specific topics, y’know for me tuition and abortion — it’s everything.”
The former Congressmen from Georgia said Savannah played an instrumental role in shaping his thinking. While visiting Juliet Gordon Low’s house in Savannah’s Historic District, Gingrich recalled reading a Girl Scout book where girls learn two trades, so if one doesn’t work out, they’d always have the other. He said this serves as the basic framework for his views on minimizing welfare.
[GINGRICH] “They were all griping and they wanted government to create jobs. And government to guarantee jobs. And I said y’know there might be a lesson to learn here from the Girl Scouts.”
But one area he does believe the government should step in is with Savannah’s ports.
[GINGRICH] “I am committed to Savannah having a modernized port capable of dealing with the larger ships that come out.”
The former House Speaker said should he become president, he’d modernize the Corps of Engineers, saying money is not being used efficiently
Gingrich also criticized President Obama for rising gas prices and recommending algae-based biofuel. He encouraged audience members to update their Facebook with “Gingrich = $2.50” to symbolize his promise of lower gas prices.
[GINGRICH] “I imagine somebody standing at a gas pump in California where Michael Reagan sent me a picture of a $5.03 gas/gallon and they’re pumping their gas, worrying about the budget and Barack Obama says, “Algae.”
Gingrich will move on to Brunswick tomorrow, his last stop before Georgia’s primary on Tuesday. Political strategists say results in Georgia could very well decide if Gingrich remains a serious contender for the race to the White House.
For District News, this has been Susan Kemp.
