Republican Presidential Hopeful Newt Gingrich Visits Mabee Center

Brandi Ball, NewsOn6.com
Lacie Lowry, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Republican Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich made a campaign stop at in Tulsa on Monday.

More than 3,500 people packed ORU's Mabee Center for Newt Gingrich's town hall meeting.

The town hall consisted of an opening statement by Gingrich, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Gingrich addressed the crowd, saying President Barack Obama, "is the most dangerous president in U.S. history when it comes to national security. "

2/9/2012 Related Story: GOP Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum Campaigns In Tulsa

The presidential hopeful also spoke about the nature of the economy in America.

"We can change things. We don't have to stay trapped in a decaying culture and economic decline," Gingrich said.

Gingrich wants every young person to have a Social Security savings account in which they can contribute, so they can have a financially secure future.

Gingrich said to a cheering crowd, "my goal is to shrink Obama's government to fit the revenue, not to raise your taxes to make it work.

"Basing my whole campaign on a system similar to the UPS box tracking program. Hold government accountable for every dollar."

"I've only heard negative about his campaign so far and so he actually said a lot of positive things I did agree with," said ORU Senior Jasmine Cotton.

Newt Gingrich became the first Republican Speaker of the House in 40 years in 1994. He initially launched his first campaign for Congress in 1974. He lost in 1974, and again in 1976, to Democratic incumbent Nelson Rockefeller. In 1978, Gingrich won a seat in the U.S. House. He would be re-elected to Congress 10 times.

In Gallup's national tracking poll of the Republican presidential race, Gingrich is in third place. In the 5-day polling period ending on February 19, Rick Santorum is leading with 36 percent, Mitt Romney is second with 26 percent, Gingrich is third with 13 percent and Ron Paul is fourth with 11 percent.

Santorum has gained 20 points in Gallup's tracking poll in the last two weeks, while Romney has dropped 11 points.

Gingrich will appear later Monday night at an Oklahoma City rally.