With the four major Republican presidential candidates battling it out in 10 states on Super Tuesday, Newt Gingrich is focusing on winning Georgia, the state he represented in Congress for two decades.
Gingrich crossed the Peach State in a three-day bus tour this week, and there are signs he is headed for a win there in Tuesday's primary. At stake are 76 delegates, which will be divided proportionally among the candidates.
The former congressional leader leads two polls of Georgia unveiled Friday.
In a Rasmussen Reports poll of likely Georgia primary voters, Gingrich leads with 38 percent, followed by Mitt Romney with 26 percent. Rick Santorum, who campaigned in Georgia earlier in the week, places third in the Peach State with 20 percent, followed by Ron Paul with 7 percent. Only 6 percent are undecided, while 3 percent back other candidates. The poll of 750 likely Georgia Republican primary voters was taken March 1 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
While he has a solid lead over Romney in the Rasmussen poll, Gingrich has a smaller lead in a YouGov poll of likely Georgia Republican primary voters released Friday. In that poll, Gingrich takes 32 percent, followed by Romney with 27 percent, Santorum with 17 percent and Paul with 10 percent. Fourteen percent remain undecided. The poll of 500 likely Georgia Republican primary voters was taken Feb. 25-March 1 and had a margin of error of +/- 5.3 percent.
Gingrich has the backing of many of the states Republican leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal. The former congressional leader showcased that support as he toured Georgia focusing on energy and lower gasoline costs. Gingrich released a new commercial on Friday in which he insists that, if elected, he can lower gas prices to $2.50 a gallon.
The Republican presidential hopeful also called on President Barack Obama to fire U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu during a campaign swing in Cherokee County, Ga., on Thursday.
America has more energy production potential than any country on the planet, Gingrich said. My plan will lower gasoline prices to $2.50 per gallon and create millions of new jobs. The presidents anti-American-energy policies are raising the cost of gasoline, killing jobs, and wasting taxpayer money on boondoggles like Solyndra.
While Gingrich leads the polls in Georgia, some of the other candidates are looking to pick up delegates in the Peach State. Romney unveiled the support of more than 40 Georgia business leaders on Friday, including Coca-Cola Enterprises Chairman and CEO John Brock, Georgia Pacific Chairman Emeritus A.D. "Pete" Corrrell and InterContinental Exchange Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Sprecher.
I am proud to announce the leadership of my Georgia finance team and the support of so many prominent Georgia business leaders, said Romney. Their help will be essential in securing the resources necessary to defeat President Obama this fall. Georgia has been hit hard by President Obamas failed economic policies. Voters are looking for someone who will create jobs, rein in government spending and work to grow the economy. Their help will be essential to spreading this message so we can turn around our struggling economy.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
