Gingrich making final push for Fla. primary votes

[January 31, 2012]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Undeterred by sagging poll numbers, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is set to make a final appeal for support as voters in Florida go to the polls Tuesday.

The former House speaker is scheduled to do a blitz of local television interviews and to swing by polling places in Orlando, Lakeland and Celebration. He'll also stop by Fred's Southern Kitchen in Plant City.

Gingrich is hoping to disprove polls that show him trailing rival Mitt Romney.

The two are locked in a fierce fight for their party's nomination. Gingrich entered Florida following a comeback win in South Carolina. But after he was hammered by a barrage of ads from Romney, his support in Florida eroded.

Gingrich has continued to portray himself as the anti-establishment candidate, despite having spent two decades in Congress and four years as House speaker.

He has suggested that Romney's campaign is "pathetic," one based not on vision but on tearing his opponents down. He has called Romney's attacks dishonest.

[Associated Press; By SHANNON McCAFFREY]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.