Gingrich scheduled to appear at Everett rally on Friday

By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 8:34pm
Local News Everett Local news

EVERETT — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich plans to be in Everett on Friday night to wrap up a two-day swing through Washington before the upcoming Republican Party caucuses.

Gingrich is scheduled to appear at a rally at 7 p.m. inside the Historic Everett Theater at 2911 Colby Ave., a campaign official said Tuesday.

Gingrich is expected at events in Kennewick and Spokane on Thursday and at several locations in the Puget Sound region on Friday, according to Lew Moore, the campaign’s caucus director in Washington.

News of his plans arrived the same day as

“>a new poll showing Gingrich trailing in the race for the GOP nomination among potential participants in the March 3 caucuses.

Rick Santorum enjoys a double-digit lead over Mitt Romney followed by Ron Paul and Gingrich in the survey of 400 likely Washington caucus voters conducted from Feb. 16-19 by Public Policy Polling.

Santorum garnered the support of 38 percent in the survey to Romney’s 27 percent, Paul’s 15 percent and Gingrich’s 12 percent.

However, of those surveyed, only 50 percent said they are strongly committed to their candidate and 50 percent said they might end up supporting someone else.

“Rick Santorum’s the favorite in Washington for now,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling in a statement. “But with half of voters open to changing their minds, Romney wins in Michigan and Arizona could swing the momentum back in his favor.”

So with the battle for the Republican nomination unsettled, the outcome in Washington could give candidates a bit of momentum heading into March 6 when there will be primaries in eight states and caucuses in two others.

Gingrich will be the third of the Republican presidential candidates to find their way into Washington before the caucuses.

Last week, Rick Santorum spoke to supporters in Olympia and Tacoma while Ron Paul held rallies in Vancouver and Spokane.

Mitt Romney is scheduled to be in Washington on March 1.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

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