Political Hotsheet
By

Naureen Khan /

CBS News/ February 17, 2012, 9:53 PM

Gingrich to rivals: You're chicken

Updated 10:20 p.m. ET

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga.-- Newt Gingrich had a message for rivals Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney at a campaign event in his native Georgia Friday: bawk bawk bawwwk.

After two people dressed in chicken suits entertained the crowd, holding a sign reading "I'm Chicken to Debate Newt," Gingrich hit his rivals for backing out of a CNN-sponsored debate that had been scheduled for March 1 but was canceled after Santorum, Romney and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas said they would not attend.

"I'm going to ask them to reconsider and come to Georgia. It'll be just fine," Gingrich told an audience of about 400 gathered in an airplane hangar in Peachtree City for an evening rally. "We'll be hospitable, and frankly there's something wrong when someone tries to buy their way to the presidency."

The frequently cash-strapped Gingrich campaign has relied heavily on his solid performances in the national televised events. After the event, talking with reporters, Gingrich said, "All I can tell you is that the average Georgian and the average Ohioan is going to say, 'Let me get this straight, they're not willing to come here to debate but they want my vote?'"

Although Gingrich said earlier this week that he may not win his home state of Georgia, he projected confidence Friday and noted the number of frontrunners who had come and gone, comparing the election cycle to being on Space Mountain in Disneyland.

"You don't know where you were and you're not sure where you're going," Gingrich said. He told the crowd, "For the third time, we'll be moving back toward front-runner status with your help."

He said, "It's very important for me to win Georgia. It's very crucial. ... How crucial is it for Mitt Romney to win Michigan? How crucial is it for Santorum to win Pennsylvania?"

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
62 Comments Add a Comment
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CatLib says:
RIVALS ARE CHICKENS, GINGRICH IS A MAD DOG WHEN HE CAN'T GRAB A WOMAN!!!
IS THIS AN ANIMAL RACE??
THEN, I WANT THE MOO, NO, THE QUACK QUACK QUACK, I FORGOT ABOUT THE OINK OINK OINK, IS 100 TIMES BETTER THAN NEWT!!!
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erpicferl says:
hey rivals..

"BWAK BWAK BAK BAKOK! BWAK BWAK BAKOK! BOK BOK BOK BOK....!"

im newt gingrich and i approved this message...
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Winghunter1 says:
Newt Gingrich vs. Mitt Romney; Comparing Conservative 'Products of Work' http://******/xW926U
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Snosageau says:
Hmmm I seem to remember his a plot from he West Wing!
So glad to be living in a country where it's issues rather than personality that drives our election campaigns
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boatdocster says:
Looks like the real front runners don't have any time to debate this 4th place, tail end loser...

Newt may have to pick up his marbles and go home!
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the0racle says:
Earthlings to Gingrich: Sponge Bob has a better chance at the presidency than you do
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2happy2ride says:
What a pompous, arrogant and immature whiner! Last I remember you didn't do very well at the last 2 debates!
Pull yourself from the kitchen table and go CAMPAIGN.
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rich2777 says:
Is respect something Newt Gingrich really practices, or is it just a word to him? If he and the other presidential candidates are so disrespectful, slinging mud, to each other in public, I don't want to even think about what they're like, or what they're doing in private. How in the heck can I ever really trust any of these guys? To me, if any of these guys make to the white house, this is a little more than scary.
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magnumdr says:
Youre chicken! sounds like playground words to me?
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JulianAlien replies:
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No,he meant to say you are all chicken hawks just like me.Except for Ron Paul of course.
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RickCain4150 says:
Stick a fork in this turkey, he's done.
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