Middle Georgia Welcomes Newt Gingrich

The 2012 presidential candidate Newt Gingrich went to college in Atlanta, taught at the University of West Georgia and represented the state of Georgia in Congress for two decades.

On Friday night, middle Georgians welcomed him back.

“He’s a popular figure in Georgia so there’s a lot of people that are going to be here tonight who maybe wouldn’t be here if some other person were speaking,” said Robert Tuttle from Cumming.

Middle Georgians seem to agree having a presidential candidate hopeful in town like Gingrich will only have a positive impact on Macon’s economy.

Laurel Schaeffer says, “Look what it’s going to draw, look at the business that’s coming in here, the people from all over the place, businesses here have to be really happy for this weekend.”

After bidding to host the conference two years ago, the Macon Convention and Visitors Bureau was prepared to welcome Georgia’s Republican leaders.

There were more than 3,000 people at the convention and roughly 2,000 delegates on the floor.

In addition to the increase in revenue, many people wanted to hear what the presidential candidate hopeful had to say.

“It’s a great thing that he’s here. It’s a great thing that he’s allowing people to hear his vision, his mission and why he has the passion and the desire to run for the president of the United States,” said Sahar Hekmeti.

The Georgia State Republican Conference began Friday and will continue through Saturday at the Macon Centreplex.

It’s estimated that the convention brought at least $750,000 into the city of Macon.