Gingrich kicks of piedmont tour in Rock Hill

An estimated crowd of 250 turned out this morning to hear Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich speak in Rock Hill. 

The former Georgia congressman and US House Speaker says voters need to nominate a GOP candidate who can stand up and tell the truth against President Obama because, “you won’t be able to beat a billion-dollar machine of dishonesty.”

Gingrich says he’s prepared to challenge the president to seven three-hour Lincoln-Douglas style debates with a timekeeper and no moderator.

Gingrich says a conservative needs to be nominated to challenge Obama.  He says a moderate cannot debate the president successfully because there’s not enough of a gap between them.

Meanwhile, another GOP White House hopeful, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, is scheduled to speak in the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek Friday at 10 a.m.