From Naples, Florida -
With several new polls showing his campaign numbers surging, Mitt Romney drew a big overflow crowd on Sunday in Naples, as his backers argue that their candidate is about to deliver a big win in the Sunshine State.
"Are you ready for the next President of the United States?" asked one local Republican official to loud cheers from a huge, overflow audience in downtown Naples.
Hundreds came to the downtown area of Naples, Florida on Sunday to see Mitt Romney, two days before the Florida Primary
As always, you can't draw a straight line between the size of a crowd and how that candidate is doing - but with three new polls out on Sunday showing double digit leads for Romney, the size of audience was one you couldn't ignore.
In his remarks, Romney seemed to be going in for the kill today, skewering Gingrich repeatedly before pivoting back to his more familiar stump speech where he jabs at President Obama.
Mitt Romney addressing a rally in Naples, Florida on Sunday afternoon
"He's now finding excuses everywhere he can," Romney said of Gingrich.
"He's on TV this morning going from station to station complaining," as Romney once again called Gingrich "Goldilocks," mocking his complaints about how the debate crowd was too quiet or that certain attacks against him are unfair.
Romney said Gingrich should take a look at his candidacy to figure out why it's not selling here in Florida.
"Your problem in Florida is that you worked for Freddie Mac at a time when Freddie Mac was not doing the right thing for the American people," as Romney accused Gingrich of "selling influence in Washington" instead of helping with the housing crisis.
If Romney were the one behind by double digits, then you might have been able to regard his attacks as a last ditch effort to get back in the race - but Romney is ahead in the polls, making this more of an effort to put a foot on the neck of the Gingrich campaign here in Florida.
"It sure has been fun in Florida these last few days," Romney said with a big smile.
His backers hope Tuesday's vote gives them even more reasons to smile.
