Former U.S. House Speaker and Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich visited Florida residents in Manatee County on Tuesday, The Bradenton Herald reported.
About 3,000 people attended the rally inside an aviation hangar close to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
Gingrich spoke to the crowd about gas prices, foreign policy, healthcare and Tuesday night's State of the Union Address, according to the newspaper.
“Tonight, the president will explain that it was all George W. Bush’s fault," the Bradenton Herald quoted Gingrich as saying. “This is the third year of his presidency — he needs to get over it.”
Republican Party of Sarasota County Chairman Joe Gruters also attended the rally.
“Who here is ready to send Barack Obama’s liberal buddies back to Chicago?” Gruters said.
Jay Rothstein, originally from New York, came to the Tuesday's rally to better familiarize himself with Gingrich.
“I’ve been watching the debates and I can’t quite decide who to vote for yet,” Rothstein told the newspaper. “I can’t stand Obama.”
