Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich faced more than two hours of sometimes contentious questioning before a group of conservatives at a northern Virginia hotel Wednesday morning.
Gingrich requested the meeting, organized by longtime conservative leader Richard Viguerie, after learning that Viguerie had put together similar meetings for rival candidates Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and Michele Bachmann. About 60 people were in the Gingrich meeting, which was held at the Key Bridge Marriott hotel just outside Washington.
“It was a little tense in there a couple of times,” says one participant, noting that some of those gathered challenged Gingrich repeatedly on his environmental policy and support for the Medicare prescription drug entitlement. Gingrich did not back down from past positions and ended some exchanges by saying that he and the conservatives would just have to agree to disagree.
Among those attending were Gary Bauer, Brent Bozell III, Angelo Codevilla, Ken Cucinelli, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Helen Krieble, Leonard Leo, Curt Levey, Ginni Thomas, R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., and several others.
Viguerie says he invited only conservative leaders who are so far uncommitted in the presidential race. “Conservatives are sitting on the sidelines four weeks before Iowa for a good reason,” Viguerie says. Viguerie also says he told Gingrich, “They just don’t know that it’s going to be any different with you than it was with George W. Bush or George H.W. Bush. So what can you do to reach out to conservatives?”
One attendee, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that the participants were undecided but suggested that few would end up with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. All of those present knew Gingrich and had ups and downs with him over the years, but none was as familiar with Romney. “We’ve been working with Newt for 30 years,” the participant said. “For whatever reason, Romney hasn’t ever been there.
