GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich took direct aim at President Barack Obama while campaigning at two Georgia churches Sunday, warning of a "50-year assault" on people of faith from the "secular left."
Speaking at the First Redeemer Church in Cumming -- the location of GOP nomination hopeful Rick Santorum's rally a week ago -- and the Rock Springs Church in Milner, Gingrich criticized the president's decision to apologize after Qurans were burned at a military base in Afghanistan. Four U.S. soldiers were killed after the incident that caused violent riots across Afghanistan.
"When the men and women who serve under you are killed, you don’t apologize to the enemy," he said to roaring applause at the evening service in Milner, a small town in Lamar County. "This is disgraceful ... this is exactly the wrong thing to do."
Earlier in Cumming while speaking about George Washington's heroism during the Revolutionary War, he noted: "I can assure you Washington would not have apologized in an instance in which young Americans were killed," he said.
Gingrich is working to secure the conservative Christian vote while campaigning in Georgia ahead of the state's Super Tuesday primary March 6, a win that he said is "essential" to his shot at the White House.
“I think it is very important to win in Georgia – I’ll put it that way,” Gingrich said to reporters before the evening event.
Sunday’s events kick off a series of visits Gingrich will make in Georgia this week, with appearances planned at the state Capitol, Dalton, Rome, Covington and Gainesville.
The former Georgia congressman holds a thin lead over Santorum in the state, according to a Rasmussen poll of about 750 likely Republican voters released Thursday. Gingrich has about 33 percent of the vote, with Santorum at 28 percent, Romney at 20 percent and Ron Paul with 9 percent of likely voters.
The former House speaker made little reference to his Republican opponents during his appearances, instead speaking about the historical role of faith in America while urging church-goers to cast their vote for a conservative Christian leader.
Gingrich acknowledged his past personal transgressions while addressing the morning audience, telling the crowd of thousands he didn't come to speak as a "religious leader" or a "saint," but as a citizen who had asked for God's forgiveness. Callista Gingrich -- the candidate's third wife -- did not attend the morning service, but did appear in Milner.
He urged the crowd of thousands to cast their votes in coming elections, declaring that Christians are caught in a battle between secular leftists and radical Islamists.
"You have radical Islamists who want to kill us, and the secular left who want to coerce us," he said.
After the service Sunday, First Redeemer member Klare Campbell said she was torn between Gingrich and Santorum. Campbell and her husband J.C. attended Santorum's rally at their church last week.
"Now I really have a dilemma," said Campbell, of Cumming. "I really like Rick, but Newt is such a good debater."
Phyliss Shepherd, of Orchard Hill, said she believes Gingrich is the better candidate.
"I like Santorum, but I don't think he'd be strong enough to face Obama," said Shepherd, whose family attended the Rock Springs service.
Friends Andrew Shannon and Doug Morris attended the First Redeemer event. Morris, a Republican, said he's leaning more towards Santorum because he feels their ideals are most alike.
"They say to vote your principles in the primary," said Morris, of Cumming.
Shannon, also of Cumming, said he is trying to hear as many presidential candidates speak in person as possible. Two weeks ago, he was leaning toward Mitt Romney, but now isn't so sure. He also hasn't ruled out voting for Obama, he said.
Jeff Hard, of Alpharetta, said his mind is made up. He attended the First Redeemer service to hear Gingrich speak, but plans to vote for Romney.
"I love Newt. He's a great debater, but we aren't going to have seven Lincoln-Douglas style debates," he said. "[But] I'm a Romney supporter, because he has a chance of beating Obama."
-- Staff writer Daniel Malloy contributed to this report.
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