Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, conceded Friday that his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination is likely to find little support in Nevada.
“I think our hope is that we may be able to come in second, although Ron Paul is very organized,” the former House speaker told Fox News in an interview Friday. “We’re going all out to see if we can’t be a good solid second here, and then we’re on to Colorado and Minnesota.”
Mr. Gingrich, who has struggled to gain support in recent polls, has spent the past several days campaigning in the state ahead of Saturday’s caucus. The Georgia Republican’s surprising primary victory in South Carolina was largely squashed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s victory in Florida days later.
Speaking to a group of supporters on Saturday, Mr. Romney seemed confident in his chances of securing a victory in the weekend primary. The Massachusetts Republican has largely ignored his chief rival, instead projecting himself as the likely Republican nominee.
“I’m convinced that I can beat Barack Obama and I don’t think anyone else can,” he told volunteers making phone calls for him.
Mr. Romney’s focus away from Mr. Gingrich comes as the Massachusetts Republican looks poised to capture the Republican presidential nomination. Speaking Saturday, Mr. Romney slammed the White House’s economic policies, alleging they have curtailed economic growth and slowed the economic recovery.
“The policies of this administration have not been helpful. They, in fact, have been harmful. They have slowed down the recovery, made it more difficult,” said Mr. Romney. “The president deserves the blame that he’ll receive in this campaign.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Gingrich’s campaign announced early Saturday that he will hold a press conference, following the official Nevada election results. The move has sparked speculation that Mr. Gingrich will not continue his campaign beyond Nevada.
