Two endorsements for Newt, one in Iowa and one in Georgia

Yesterday, Iowa State Reprensative Joshua Byrnes (you can follow him on Twitter here) endorsed Newt.

Today, a staunch Rick Perry supporter in Georgia -- the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said he may have been Perry's "most ardent supporter" in Georgia -- endorsed Newt. John Douglas, who was a state senator, wrote on Facebook:

“After very careful consideration and lengthy discussions with many key supporters, I am leaving the Perry camp, effective immediately. I no longer see a path to victory for him and have had great difficulties dealing with his staff.

“I still like many of his policies and would have no problem voting for him if he is our nominee. Now I am endorsing Newt Gingrich for President and will spend time in the near future explaining that move. Suffice it to say tonight that Newt champions the culture war I believe in fighting and he is a brilliant, very well-spoken man. I am pleased to endorse him for President.”

Newt "reminded me that real conservatism is anti-establishment"

From PeachPundit.com:

I had the opportunity to meet with Gingrich in Atlanta last week, and it is clear things have changed in the campaign. He is again surrounded with staff, and there is a certain buzz & energy about their business. New polls show Gingrich in third place, behind Cain and Romney, but ahead of Perry and the others. There also seemed to be the discipline that was so lacking under the former structure. Gingrich is once again poised to make a move in this race.

For this to happen, however, he must convince the voters currently backing Cain, Perry, and Bachmann that he can be the “anti-establishment” candidate. I asked him how someone who was once Speaker of the House becomes anti-establishment. He reminded me that real conservatism is anti-establishment, just as Reagan was the anti-establishment candidate when he ran, and further argued that Reagan was still anti-establishment when he left office. He believes the ideas in his new Contract With America are sufficiently anti-establishment, and that as voters learn about them, he’ll be able present a choice that is a break with the status quo.

(Video) Newt talking with editorial board of Gwinnett Daily Post

Link.

(Video) Newt speaking in Dawsonville, Georgia, on new Contract

Link.



Thanks to William Wade, who I have quoted before on this blog, for helping set this up.

Newt himself gave a shout-out to Will on Twitter:

@Newt2012HQ we just had a great event in dawsonville hosted by will wade and focused on the 21st century contract with America

Videos of Georgia Representatives endorsing Newt for President

The campaign today sent out a press release (which I posted here) touting some of their endorsements from the state of Georgia.

It then tweeted four videos from four of the elected officials from the press release:

Sean Jerguson.



Matt Hatchett.



Harry Geisinger.



Paulette Braddock.

Newt 2012 Press Release on Georgia Endorsements

Link.

Atlanta, GA - With hours to go before the Georgia GOP straw poll in Perry this weekend, the Newt 2012 campaign announced a list of Republican lawmakers and elected officials who have endorsed Newt Gingrich for President.

Georgia Legislators:

State Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta). Hill is chairman of the Senate Government Oversight Committee and has turned to Gingrich for ideas on health reform.

State Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee. Cooper has been a longtime ally of Gingrich.

State Rep. Joe Wilkinson (R-Sandy Springs). Wilkinson is chairman of the House Ethics Committee and served in the Reagan Administration.

State Rep. Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell). Geisinger first served in the House from 1969-1974 and was re-elected when Republicans took the Majority in 2004. He used to be a guest speaker in Professor Gingrich’s history classes at West Georgia College in Carrollton.

State Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Canton). Jerguson is chairman of the Cherokee County legislative delegation.

State Rep. Paulette Braddock (R-Hiram). Braddock is a freshman from Paulding County who is assisting on the Newt 2012 leadership team in Georgia.

State Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin). Hatchett is one of the Governor's floor leader and a small business owner from middle Georgia. He now holds the seat currently held by former longtime minority leader Rep. Dubose Porter.


Georgia officials

Governor Nathan Deal.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens

Public Service Commissioners Stan Wise and Lauren “Bubba” McDonald.

Members of Congress

U.S. Rep. Tom Price of the 6th District; U.S. Rep. Austin Scott of the 8th District; U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey of the 11th District and U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of the 1st District.

Former Georgia Governor and United States Senator Zell Miller, is national co-chairman of the Newt 2012 campaign. Georgia’s current Governor, Nathan Deal, is the other co-chairman of the Newt 2012 campaign.


“The Georgia Republican Party has come a long way,” Gingrich said. “I am proud to have the support of my fellow Republicans.”

Gingrich went on to say that his relationships with some elected officials go back forty years or more when Republicans were hard to find in Georgia.

“I have known some of these folks since my first days in Republican politics,” said the former House Speaker. “Together we have worked to make America stronger, freer and more prosperous. With a new President we can go even further, and I am grateful to have them on my team.”

State Rep. Joe Wilkinson, who worked in the Reagan White House press office, called Gingrich “America’s Winston Churchill.”

“They too had to turn to the brightest candidate and the one with the most vision to save their nation,” Wilkinson said. “Newt is the candidate who can save and restore America.”

NOTE: Gingrich will attend the Georgia Republican Party annual Fish Fry in Perry, Ga. this coming Saturday. Newt will arrive at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Audio of Newt on Martha Zoller's radio show today

Link.

Newt's schedule in Georgia for the 27th and 28th.

(Posted on Newt50States.com and the Georgia page on that site.)

-- Wednesday, July 27, 2011: Touring the Genesis Shelter. Atlanta, Georgia. 10:00 AM.

-- Wednesday, July 27, 2011: Meeting with phone bank volunteers at Newt 2012 Headquarters. Atlanta, Georgia. 1:00 PM.

-- Wednesday, July 27, 2011: Fulton County GOP Chairman's Council Meeting. Buckhead, Georgia. Event page.

-- Thursday, July 28, 2011: Speaking to the Cartersville Rotary Club. Cartersville, Georgia. 12:00 PM.

-- Thursday, July 28, 2011: Book signing. Marietta, Georgia. Event page.

-- Thursday, July 28, 2011: Anti-tax Townhall and Rally. Marietta, Georgia. Event page.