Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was forced to cancel a scheduled appearance Monday evening at his New Hampshire campaign headquarters due to security reasons, The Associated Press reports.
Protesters carrying signs in support of rival Republican candidate Ron Paul and the Occupy Wallstreet movement showed up at the scheduled appearance ahead of time and caused the cancellation. Mr. Paul’s supporters were reportedly playing speeches by the Texas congressman.
The Associated Press reports that there were about 40 protesters, almost equal to the amount of volunteers and supporters that were there to support Mr. Gingrich.
The supporters of Mr. Gingrich were transported to an event where the former House speaker would be watching the NCAA national championship game between LSU and Alabama Monday night.
The event was supposed to take place in the downtown area of Manchester, New Hampshire. However, the protesters were reportedly a security threat to the former House speaker, as supporters of Mr. Paul played a version of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” with the lyrics replaced by “Ron Paul, Ron Paul.”
Mr. Gingrich’s campaign spokesman, R.C. Hammond said that his candidate does not feel threatened by the New Hampshire “voting public.”
“The good voting public of N.H. is not a threat to Newt Gingrich,” said Mr. Hammond in an interview with ABC News.
Mr. Gingrich is still hoping for a top tier finish in the Granite state despite the large lead held by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, indicated by a Public Polling Policy poll released Sunday.
The former House speaker did interviews with Fox News and MSNBC Tuesday morning, and is hosting an “Ask Newt” town hall event in New Hampshire Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Gingrich also plans on visiting several polling places throughout New Hampshire Tuesday.
