Gingrich pins campaign on a cluster of contests

By Brian Bakst

Associated Press

Published: Saturday, Feb. 25 2012 1:32 a.m. MST

Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, left, and his wife Callista look into the crowd during a campaign stop on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012 in Everett, Wash.

Evan Vucci, Associated Press

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Summary

Largely on the sidelines of the GOP race, Newt Gingrich is pinning his fleeting Republican presidential hopes on Georgia and a cluster of states that vote the same day.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Largely on the sidelines of the GOP race, Newt Gingrich is pinning his fleeting Republican presidential hopes on Georgia and a cluster of states that vote the same day.

He's likely to sustain two more losses before Super Tuesday — in Michigan and Arizona, two states he's ceded to rivals Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. And he could end up riding a nine-state losing streak by the time the March 6 contests roll around.

The former House speaker, who began his political career in Georgia, has no opportunities for break-out performances in debates. He used them twice before to pull his campaign back from the brink.

As the political world focuses on Tuesday's contests in Michigan and Arizona, Gingrich's look-ahead, Super Tuesday strategy is filled with risks.

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