COCOA, Fla. — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich told voters on Florida’s Space Coast that he would establish the first permanent station on the moon and support the technology for a trip to Mars during a town hall meeting here on Wednesday.
“Does that mean I’m a visionary? You betcha,” Gingrich said, eliciting cheers from hundreds of voters packed into a Holiday Inn Express in Cocoa, Fla.
Gingrich said space exploration in the United States is “broken” and that he wants to inspire people to be more innovative in exploring and researching the solar system.
If he becomes president “you will have a 365-day-a-year relentless pressure to be faster, quicker, meaner, more innovating, more thoughtful, more daring, more visionary,” he said.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is locked in a dead heat Florida primary fight with the former House speaker, has ridiculed Gingrich’s fascination with space as “zany.”
But along this stretch of Central Florida, hard hit by recession and longing for the glory of past space launches, the former speaker had an ardent audience for his extravagant promises.
“Twice now Gov. Romney has made fun of me for having bold ideas in space,” Gingrich said. “I come at space from the standpoint of a romantic belief that it is really part of our destiny.”
Chemistry teacher Elizabeth Smith said she likes the dreamer in Gingrich.
“Obama’s a smart guy,” said Smith, a registered Republican who voted for Obama in the 2008 election.
“I’m supporting Newt because he’s the only candidate who seems to have the intellect to beat Obama.”
Turning to her Obama-supporting husband, Gary, she added, “Even he agrees.” Gary Smith, who identified himself as a “big” Obama supporter, nodded.
David Prather said he’s waited a long time to see a Gingrich-Obama matchup.
“Everyone knows Newt’s the best debater,” said Prather, a registered independent who decided to get active in Gingrich’s campaign after his win in South Carolina.
“When he was down in the polls the old joke was: ‘Boy, it would be nice to see Newt debate President Obama.'”
Prather stood on the side of the road outside a shuttered gas station just a couple miles from a Gingrich town hall meeting, waving “Newt 2012” signs at passing cars. He was joined by a half dozen others, including his two daughters and his wife.
Prather said Gingrich’s appeal is rooted in his ability to vocalize voters’ anger with gridlock in Washington and a sputtering economic recovery.
“I think most of the country is pretty angry and we just want someone that can go out and express our anger and explain the issues — and really get into the specifics on the issues,” he said.
