Gingrich cancels Kansas trip to focus on South

Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, accompanied by his wife Callista, speaks at a rally in Montgomery, Ala., Wednesday, March 7, 2012.

/ AP Photo/David Bundy)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Newt Gingrich is cancelling his planned trip to Kansas this week and will instead campaign entirely in Alabama and Mississippi, two states that go to the polls next week -- and which are must-wins if his Presidential campaign is to continue.

Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond confirmed as much on Wednesday when asked if the former House speaker had to win both of the Southern states to remain viable.

"Yes," Hammond told reporters before a rally in Montgomery. He added, "A big win in Georgia kept us in the race. Big wins in Alabama and Mississippi will add even more fuel to the tank."

Hammond also responded to calls from some Republicans for Gingrich to get out of the race so that the conservative vote can consolidate behind Rick Santorum, who had a better showing than Gingrich on Super Tuesday. Gingrich won only his home state of Georgia, while Santorum won three states and Mitt Romney won six.

"That's flawed logic," Hammond said, suggesting that similar calls could be made for Santorum to leave the race, allowing Gingrich to consolidate the vote.

Gingrich, who often hits Romney on the campaign trail for being too moderate a candidate to defeat President Obama, turned his attention to his more conservative competitor in a speech to supporters at a Renaissance Hotel in downtown Montgomery.

"I would say with all respect to my friend from Pennsylvania Senator Santorum," Gingrich said, "there is a big difference between being a good team member and changing the game. I'm not going to Washington to be a good team member. I'm going to Washington to change Washington itself."

He cited Santorum's votes against right-to-work laws in Pennsylvania and insinuated that his competitor had sold out. Gingrich pointed to his own votes against tax increases put forth by both Republican and Democratic presidents as an example that he could be trusted to stand his ground on issues of importance to conservatives.

"I voted against Republican presidents and I voted against Democratic presidents because being committed to my conscience was more important than being on a team that was doing the wrong thing," he said.

[NDann]

An un-informed comment on Santorum.............Santorum is a man of the working man.....however my comment was on the Gingrich line that keeps saying Santoram voted against the National Right to Work law, although National is left out of Gingrich's claim critising Santorum. I am from a Right to Work State & believe that is the best for a state's economics. However that is a State issue & is not a federal issue & National Right to Work law is Unconstitutional & that is why Santorum does not Support that. It is a State issue. Here in ND we voted very Conservative & looked right past all the liberal clips including our own candidates who are unfortunately twisting issues for their own benefits. Santorum is not afraid to get out of the city & get a bit dirty to talk first hand to the people to hear there issues. Romney stayed in the city...Both Rick & Paul were at the heart of the Bakkens to hear the needs of those small town people to learn the impact of oil developement. Santorum is a very pro working class candidate. You can't go up there & get your hands dirty out there & fake it. He was loving hearing about the technology & looking at the piece Shale that he takes with him in a campaign. He was loving getting down in the dirt. Kansas is very similar to ND. & We trust Santorum to state his position going forward because he is shown to be the real people's Candidate & Paul's domestic stand is one no here disagrees with & his strong second place here reflected that.

[sharkboy234]

Mitt Romney is in it win it in kansas and alabama and this could be over for now!

[occupy_cbs]

venusvegasvada: "I don't know why he's bothering. Even if he takes Mississippi and Alabama, I'd say that's the end of the line for him. Why is it that he can't admit it?"



It is amazing that somebody that continuously 'tries' to tell everyone in the room how 'smart' he is, the newt is really dumb, and being played by his benefactor, Sheldon Adelson.

Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that the billionaire casino mogul thinks that keeping "the newt" in the race will draw conservative voters away from little ricky sanitarium, clearing the way for willard romney to take the GOP nomination.

[venusvegasvada]

I don't know why he's bothering. Even if he takes Mississippi and Alabama, I'd say that's the end of the line for him. Why is it that he can't admit it?

His reasons for staying in the race are a reflection of his life and who he is.

Selfish. Delusional. Hostile. Spiteful. Vindictive. Snide. Unscrupulous.

These are not the great attributes we are looking for in a Commander in Chief.

This is why he has no support. It's why people aren't voting for him. It's why people aren't going to vote for him.

Someone needs give Newt a mirror.

[venusvegasvada]

"A big win in Georgia kept us in the race."

Romney basically won Atlanta, the megalopolis of Georgia.

He took DeKalb and Fulton counties, which are the meat and potatoes of Atlanta.

I wouldn't exactly call that a "Big Win", but hey, dealing truth and being realistic isn't exactly in the GOPACK memo now is it?

[cbsnews_viewer]

Most likely a wise move, since he took Georgia. Hopefully, Kansas will vote for Paul. Paul did real well in North Dakota which many may argue is closer in philosophy to Kansas. When you have Romney, who will turn left the second he secures the nomination and Santorium who thinks the purpose of the United States is to keep raising the deficit and Uber-support the current government in Israel.