Gingrich Supporters Flock to Ames to See Candidate 3 Days Before Iowa Caucuses

Throngs of Newt Gingrich supporters and media from around the world converged on in Ames to get a final look at the presidential candidate before Tuesday's Iowa Caucus.

Jonas Cutler and his daughter, Arianna, 12, from West Des Moines, crowded just inside the door, to shake the candidate’s hand.

“We’re very excited and glad to be first in the nation,” Jonas Cutler said. “We select presidents here.”

As Gingrich and his wife, Callista, entered the crowded pub, the couple signed Newt’s book and the hat of Jon Hathaway of Des Moines, who told the couple, “My dad really likes you.”

Supporters Mike and Sarah Sauer, of Nevada, attended the event with their son, Thomas, 4. Despite a dip in the polls, Mike Sauer said he expected Gingrich to become the next president of the United States.

“He’s the only true conservative that will beat Obama,” Mike Sauer said.

Today's final Des Moines Register Iowa Poll before the Caucus puts Gingrich — once the frontrunner in the Hawkeye State — at fourth in the field, with 12 percent support. The poll shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in first with 24 percent, Texas Rep. Ron Paul has 22 percent and former Pennyslvania Sen. Rick Santorum surging to third place with 15 percent.

Hundreds of patrons packed the Ames pub, along with media from around the world. Waitresses had trouble serving customers, and patrons watched Gingrich on the bar's televisions giving an interview before he entered the packed pub and wound through shaking hands and signing books.

Roman and Lynn Lynch, of Ames, hoped to shake the candidate’s hand. Roman Lynch said he is excited to be a caucus precinct chairman on Tuesday.

“He’s a good man,” Lynch said, of Gingrich. “He knows how to operate and he knows what needs to be done.”

Lynch added: “I love the guy.”

Roman said despite where Gingrich is ranked in polls, he is not ready to give his support to another candidate. If Gingrich doesn’t make the cut, Roman Lynch said he was leaning toward Santorum.

Not everyone in the crowd agrees that the Iowa Caucuses should retain its first-in-the-nation status.

“I don’t think it’s fair that Iowa gets all of the attention and that Iowa gets to have all of the fun,” said Justin Sykes, 25, a self-described “political tourist” from Appleton, Wisc., who is undecided about who will support in his state's later primary.  

Arianna Cutler, of West Des Moines, said it was exciting to get so close to political candidates, such as Gingrich.

“It feels like I’m making a difference,” said Cutler, holding a poster with signatures from Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Ron Paul that she hoped to have Gingrich sign.