From Hudson, New Hampshire -
On the eve of the New Hampshire Primary, Newt Gingrich came to Alvirne High School in Hudson talking optimistically about his chances to avoid finishing again in the lower tier of candidates when Granite State voters go to the polls on Tuesday.
"Romney had dropped ten points in the last in I think eight days," Gingrich told an overflow crowd, even after the event was moved two miles to a larger venue.
"20 percent of you apparently have promised you won't decide until tomorrow sometime," Gingrich said, as New Hampshire voters giggled about their independent streak which sometimes leaves candidates and their campaign hierarchy frustrated.
"On occasion, I run into a voter who says, 'Oh, good, I've now met every single one of you and I still don't know what I'm doing,'" Gingrich said to chuckles.
The poll numbers that had Gingrich hopeful were from Suffolk University in Massachusetts, which has been running a daily tracking poll in recent weeks. It has shown Romney's support softening, though no one still seems ready to vault over Romney in New Hampshire.
Gingrich called it a "remarkably open race."
As he did on Sunday, Gingrich drew a good crowd here in Hudson, as furiously criss-crossed the southern part of the state on Monday.
Part of his message again was that he is the natural heir to Ronald Reagan's version of conservative politics, and that positions him the best to defeat President Obama.
"I believe four more years of Barack Obama will make this a dramatically different country," Gingrich said, arguing that he can draw a "very wide distinction" with the President in the November election.
"I am a Reagan conservative who believes in American exceptionalism," said Gingrich, tying Obama to Saul Alinsky and more.
Gingrich wants to avoid a fourth place finish here in New Hampshire after finishing fourth last week in Iowa.
Romney seems to be in first, Ron Paul in second, with Jon Huntsman, Gingrich and Rick Santorum fighting for third place.
"I really do believe that a Reagan Conservative has a better chance against Obama than a Massachusetts Moderate," Gingrich said to applause.
His hope is the GOP voters of New Hampshire will take that thought to the polls on Tuesday.
