Newt Gingrich Florida Primary Results 2012

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Trounced in Florida, presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Tuesday used the defeat to declare that he alone is the conservative alternative to GOP front-runner Mitt Romney.

Gingrich ignored the fact that the other two candidates in the race – Ron Paul and Rick Santorum – chose not to run aggressive campaigns in the state.

"It is now clear that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader, Newt Gingrich, and the Massachusetts moderate, and the voters of Florida made that clear," Gingrich said following returns that showed him trailing Romney badly.

Gingrich's defiant pledge to continue on against Romney sets the stage for a bitter brawl for the Republican nomination that could last for months. Gingrich supporters Tuesday night hoisted signs that read "46 States to Go."

It was a message, the former House speaker said, to those eager to write his political obituary.

"I just want to reassure everyone, we are going to contest every place and we are going to win and we will be in Tampa as the nominee in August," he said.

Signs pointed to an uphill fight. Gingrich spoke to a half-empty hotel balloon in Orlando where reporters appeared to outnumber supporters. It was a turnabout for a candidate who just 10 days ago bounded to a decisive comeback victory in South Carolina. Gingrich arrived in Florida to huge crowds and a lead in the polls. But a pair of lackluster debate performances a bruising advertising assault by Romney took their toll.

Gingrich never mentioned Romney by name Tuesday night and offered the winner of Florida's primary no words of congratulation.

The two have been locked in an increasingly vicious fight for the Republican nod with Gingrich calling Romney dishonest and his campaign "pathetic." Romney took off the gloves against Gingrich in Florida, assailing his work for Freddie Mac in a state hit hard by the housing bust. He also questioned Gingrich ties to President Ronald Reagan, which left the former Georgia congressman visibly irked.

Gingrich campaigned in Florida with Michael Reagan, son of the late president, as well as Herman Cain, his onetime GOP rival and a tea party favorite.

Despite the loss, Gingrich had appeal with the GOP's conservative base. According to preliminary exit polls, Gingrich carried those voters seeking a true conservative. But he was plagued by questions about electability in the general election. A majority of voters called Romney the candidate best able to defeat Democratic President Barack Obama. Only 3 in 10 said Gingrich could best win in November.

Gingrich now heads to Nevada, which is set to hold caucuses Saturday. Romney won Nevada when he sought the GOP nomination in 2008 and has had a campaign team there for months.

Gingrich's fortunes could rest on Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who remains in the race despite weak showings in South Carolina and now Florida. He was a distant third in both contests. Santorum continues to pull conservative and evangelical support that would likely move to Gingrich if he left the race. Tuesday's results could increase the pressure on Santorum to drop out.

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Check out the slideshow below for more on the Gingrich campaign.

 

 

Comments

[NSF ll]

01:03 AM on 02/02/2012

Let's see if Frunpty-dumpty can put Humpty-dumpty back together again.

[thecornerangel]

11:05 PM on 02/01/2012

I think Newt's campaign is just another way for him to get publicity for the right. He's just selling himself, nothing more. He knows he won't get the nomination, but he's uniting the people who need to feel like someone is speaking for them. And he's being paid very very well by the guys in the back room. Newt is set for life.
And if one more person says he'll be good in a debate with Obama I'm going to throw up. Newt doesn't care what he says, because he knows it doesn't matter, and he's right. This campaign is the worst parody of democracy. And I'm so tired of it.

[annie oros]

12:54 AM on 02/02/2012

Calling the Republocans clowns in a clown car,
is demeaning to clowns.

[nadohawk]

09:56 PM on 02/01/2012

And more reason to vote for Romney.

[jlbahlo]

09:01 PM on 02/01/2012

Despite his big loss at Florida, Gingrich was very honest by playing the Beatles song "I'm a loser" in the background while speaking to his foolowers.

[had410]

07:35 PM on 02/01/2012

I'm beginning to think this man has mental health issues.

[annie oros]

12:55 AM on 02/02/2012

You can see it in his eyes!

[Southrnbelle]

07:51 AM on 02/01/2012

Delusions of Grander are truly a dangerous thing.

Pathetic, the lot of them.

[djaikins]

07:16 AM on 02/01/2012

Question of the day: Newt Gingrich or Michael Reagan - which has the fewest followers and the biggest ego??

[yauxeybalba]

07:03 AM on 02/01/2012

My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack.
Ferdinand Foch

Way to Newt, the Republican Custer!

[nbb]

05:32 AM on 02/01/2012

Newt is all about Newt, and Newt only. Soon to be irrelevant for the remainder of his days.

[SiameseTrainer]

04:11 AM on 02/01/2012

We will see how this all plays out but I am sure loving it so far. The Holy Roller vote is split three ways; the Utah crowd going for their favourite son, the really hardcore going for Santorum, and the turn the other cheek group punting for St. Ronnies man. Meanwhile the bagger clamour is against Mr. Mittens the "moderate" and is unsure about the electability of the three actual primary winners so far. Ron Paul is so far beyond the new normal confines of the repoblican partei he might just as well drop the pretense and the partei support and start running as an independent now before the field becomes full of "also rans" This race is moving the repoblicans further and further to the right into positions which are indefensible and full of opportunities for a Progressive attack.

This is the year to primary the blue dogs. This is the year for the O Man to do better than mouth platitudes in defence of his own candidacy, this is the year that he either joins the TEAM and lends his formidable speaking skills to DEMOCRATIC ideals and candidates or his Presidency will be done, whether he is reelected or not. Remember who stopped every bit of legislation which attempted to return America to working Americans, and the majority votes in the Senate, and that the group who had the hammer were DEMOCRATS. This is an ideal opportunity, please my friends don't mess it up!

[Barbara Hammons Davis]

01:19 AM on 02/01/2012

The above pic. on the video reminds me of the movie, "The Face of Dorian Gray." Remember,all of his evil sins made him hideous and old.

[uncommon sense1]

12:02 AM on 02/01/2012

I wondered how long it would be until Newt started talking to balloons...

[apogee2perogee]

11:56 PM on 01/31/2012

So, in how many of those 46 remaining states has Newt failed to get onto the ballot?

[HKR07]

02:34 AM on 02/01/2012

The media keep ignoring how Newt is not on ballot in MO or VA, two key states.

[NSF ll]

12:57 AM on 02/02/2012

The media has shown so much pro-Newt bias pt's pathetic.

[Captain Beefheart]

11:38 PM on 01/31/2012

Newt is delusional.

[had410]

07:35 PM on 02/01/2012

and obese.

[Rantibus]

11:03 PM on 01/31/2012

He's waiting for Mitt to drop out? Why, when Mitt's SuperPac is doing so well at buying his way to the nomination?
"I just want to reassure everyone, we are going to contest every place and we are going to win and we will be in Tampa as the nominee in August," he said."
He then mounted his purple unicorn and rode off scattering magic vote-dust in his wake.

Just wondering - how many states still use DieBold voting machines?

[HKR07]

02:36 AM on 02/01/2012

I want Newt to turn the GOP inside out. Take them down with the sinking ship of your campaign.