Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich Makes Stops In OKC, Tulsa

Republican Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich made two stops in Oklahoma Monday. He was in Tulsa at a town hall meeting with voters Monday afternoon, then stopped in Oklahoma City at the Jim Thorpe Museum.

Gingrich is the third major presidential candidate to stop in Oklahoma.

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"This is the first time I've seen this much excitement and up and down in the polling across the different candidates," said Matt Jackson, Oklahoma County Republican Party Chairman.

Jackson explained that new rules in the state's Republican primary put the state up for grabs with the candidates.

"In August, we got together in accordance with the RNC's request to change Oklahoma from a ‘winner-get-all' to a percentage based [election]," Jackson said.

Jackson said that decision put Oklahoma on the national map as the candidates battle for the state's 43 delegates up for grabs. Jackson said as long as a candidate gets 15% of the vote, he will receive a portion of the state's delegates. If a candidate wins 50% of the vote, however, he will take all of the delegates.

Gingrich made his case to Oklahoma voters Monday afternoon. He hammered President Obama on gas prices. Gingrich said the current administration wants higher gas prices.

"The President has said, ‘You know you ought to buy smaller cars.' Now let me start with a simple premise most Oklahomans will understand. You cannot put a gun rack in a Volt."

Jackson said the constant changes in the polls make Oklahoma an important place for the candidates as they try to nab their nomination.

"You never know who's going to be ahead in the polls that week and so it's going to be an exciting build up all the way through," said Jackson. "I believe in future years we will see more and more candidates coming to Oklahoma, especially now that we're not a winner-take-all state."

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