Newt Gingrich Celebrates Win in Georgia

Calling the last several months the most difficult of his long political career, Newt Gingrich won Georgia’s Super Tuesday primary.

“This is amazing. I hope the analysts in Washington and New York, who spent June and July saying our campaign is dead, will learn something from this crowd,” Gingrich told several hundred cheering supporters.

"You believed in the power of ideas; that people can make a difference; and that Wall Street money can be defeated by Main Street work."

Gingrich held his election night party at Smyrna’s Renaissance Waverly Hotel.

Several networks called the election at around 7:00 pm, only moments after Georgia’s polls had closed.

His supporters stressed throughout the evening that their candidate is the only Republican presidential contender who stand toe-to-toe with President Obama in a debate.

"Newt is the only candidate who can debate the president, and absolutely wear him out, to the point of embarrassment," said Steve Thornton of Atlanta.

Jay Perkins, another Atlanta supporter of Newt, doesn't know if Gingrich can win the nomination. "But Newt believes he can, and he has a history of turning his beliefs into reality."

Just last week, Gingrich said he had to win the Georgia primary for his campaign to survive.

Besides the GOP establishment, Gingrich said the national media and Wall Street interests have attempted to undermine his candidacy.

"Remember when it was Tim Pawlenty who was going to crowd me out; then Michelle Bachman; then Herman Cain, the first time; then Rick Perry; then Herman Cain the second time; and now Rick Santorum ..." Gingrich said. “I said at the very peak of Rick Santorum’s surge, if I can't carry my home state, I would have no credibility."

Gingrich’s recent campaign has placed an emphasis on a national energy policy, amidst a recent, rapid rise in gasoline prices. He currently is touting his "$2.50 a gallon for gas" policy.

Next up for Gingrich are the Alabama, Mississippi and Kansas primaries.

Joyce Shumacher, with the Georgia Tea Party, is happy Newt won, "but we're on a roller coaster, and anything can happen. Anything is possible."