From Jacksonville, Florida - By moving up a Presidential Primary to January 31, 2012, the state of Florida pushed its way into the conversation for the race for the White House, and the Sunshine State is getting some attention even as Iowa and New Hampshire draw near.
With just over six weeks to go until the Iowa Caucuses, Newt Gingrich left the Hawkeye State for a Tea Party event in Jacksonville, Florida, drawing a big outdoor crowd on a Chamber of Commerce day in November.
“President Obama has been the best food stamp President in American history,” the former Speaker of the House said, once more avoiding his GOP rivals and focusing on Mr. Obama.
“He’s put more people on food stamps than any other President.”
Gingrich was questioned by the crowd on his past consulting work for Freddie Mac, and did his best to shrug that off, arguing that he is the best positioned candidate – with the most experience – to take on President Obama and the Democrats next November.
As Gingrich arrived in the Sunshine State, there were new poll numbers that were sure to bring about big smiles in his camp, as a poll from Rasmussen showed Gingrich leading in Iowa, which would certainly be a big boost for his campaign.
The poll had Gingrich at 32%, Mitt Romney 19%, Herman Cain 13%, Ron Paul 10% and Rick Perry at 6%.
That was just a little different from a poll that came out a few hours earlier which showed Herman Cain leading in Iowa, and Gingrich well back with just 5%.
As Gingrich heads to Massachusetts today, Herman Cain will come back to Florida for the second time this week, as he also stops in Jacksonville.
Many look at Florida and believe it could be the kingmaker next January, when voters go to the polls here at the end of that crucial primary and caucus month.
Four years ago, John McCain won here and started to roll downhill against his GOP challengers, which included Mitt Romney; Romney backers believe he can win Florida and do what McCain did in 2008.
But Gingrich and Cain would like to step in and make some noise of their own.
