Gingrich to air extended ad on gas prices in Super Tuesday states

As the playing field expands in the Republican presidential race heading toward Super Tuesday, Newt Gingrich is taking an infomercial approach in hopes of making yet another comeback.

The former House speaker’s campaign announced Wednesday that it will purchase half-hour blocks of air time in key cities between now and March 6 to air an extended address by Gingrich on a trending concern -- high gas prices.

The recorded speech was delivered, the campaign notes, “without a teleprompter or text,” and features Gingrich outlining his vision for increased domestic energy production. It is very simply produced -- just Gingrich speaking to the camera in front of a blue-lit curtain.

“Every time you can lower the cost of energy, you make it easier for us to have manufacturing and you lower the cost of living,” Gingrich says in the ad. “We are not a country of food stamps and welfare. We are a country of the work ethic, of a job, of take-home pay, of opening up our own business. And this kind of energy program will do just that.”

It’s a far cry from the extended ad Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign aired only weeks before the general election. That special, on network and cable television, ended with the Democratic nominee speaking live to tens of thousands of supporters in a Florida arena.

It’s something of a Hail Mary from Gingrich, who has been at a decided disadvantage in terms of ad spending to Mitt Romney and even of late Rick Santorum.

“The answer to Gov. Romney’s 30-second attack ads filled with garbage is a 30-minute address filled with substance,” Gingrich spokesman Joe DeSantis said in a statement to reporters. “Newt’s message about lowering gasoline and other energy prices is resonating and the Obama administration is on defense over their policies hostile to American energy production, which are causing pain at the pump.”

Ten states hold nominating contests on Super Tuesday, though Gingrich is not on the ballot in all of them. The campaign will announce more details about when and where the message will air in the days ahead.

You can view the full special here: