With victory in sight, Gingrich turns attention to Florida

With just over an hour to go before polls closed here, Newt Gingrich turned his sights to Florida, asking supporters to contact friends and family in the Sunshine State, the site of the next nominating contest in the Republican presidential primary race.

“If we’re going to win a people’s campaign, it’s going to be by having people,” Gingrich told a packed crowd at Whiteford’s, a local burger joint.

Citing exit poll results that showed him leading rivals Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, Gingrich said, “I think we’re doing much better than people thought we would.” He credited groups like the local tea party group, whose 60 or so members endorsed his candidacy in December.

He kept his remarks brief and lighthearted as he seemed to be reveling in the moment – by far the highest point yet in his campaign.

John Gartrell, the vice president of the tea party group, said he voted for Gingrich today because of “his experience and also his debate skills.”

Iva Cadmus had him sign a copy of his book, “Gettysburg,” and gave him a handmade Valentine “to the next president of the United States.”

“He’s a really good writer,” she said.

Another supporter, Bos Howard, said he voted for Gingrich because, “I’ve always liked the way Newt framed an argument.”

Howard said he was on the fence until the last minute, trying to decide between Gingrich and Santorum.

“I think he’s got a better shot of winning,” Howard said of Gingrich. “I could be happy with either one of those two cats.”

Asked whether he had considered supporting Romney, Howard, who declared “You’re a Yankee” when he learned that this reporter came from California by way ofWashington, D.C.-- said he ruled Romney out because of his Mormon faith.

“Islam is a form of government,” he said. “It is not a religion. And so is Mormonism. It’s a form of government.... There are rules and regulations for its leaders from the temple.

“I don’t think you should vote for someone because of their religious preferences. But when you have a form of government attached to your religion, that concerns me a little bit.”

Still, he said, he would vote for Romney in a general election against President Obama because Obama believes in socialism, a form of government that “doesn’t work.”