Newt Gingrich may have been on vacation (planned “early in the campaign” according to spokesman Rick Tyler) during the Faith and Freedom Conference this weekend, but that didn’t stop him from making an appearance.
The presidential contender sent a video message to conference attendees. “I hope you have a great conference,” he said. “And I want you to know that I stand with you on returning America to the core values that have made us the most remarkable nation.”
The audience wasn’t feeling it. National Journal reports the announcement that Gingrich “wanted to be with us tonight” elicited eye rolls and laughter from the crowd at the conference’s closing dinner. The video message was followed by what the publication referred to as “awkward courtesy claps.”
This may not have been the crowd to welcome Gingrich with open arms regardless of whether he’d made an appearance in person or not. Married for the third time, the former Speaker of the House has admitted to having an affair in the past.
Following Gingrich’s video message was a similar address to the conference from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a Tea Party favorite. Rubio’s video was much better received, met with wild applause.