Newt Gingrich openly wept while talking about his mother during a campaign appearance in Iowa. The White House candidate, responding to a question from Republican political consultant and pollster Frank Lutz, began tearing up as he spoke about his mom, who suffered from depression and bipolar disorder.

"Late in her life she ended up in a long-term care facility. She had bipolar disease, depression and she gradually acquired some physical ailments and that introduced me to the issue of quality, long-term care," Gingrich told a group of mothers at a forum held in a coffee shop in Des Moines.

Gingrich said his mother, who passed away in 2003, has played a role in his legislative interests during his political career.

"My whole emphasis on brain science comes in directly from dealing - see how I'm getting emotional - from dealing with you know the real problems of real people in my family," he continued, trying to hold back tears. "So it is not a theory. It is in fact my mother."

"I do policy much easier than I do personal," he said, wiping away tears.

Gingrich's teary moment is drawing comparisons to the much-publicized moment in the 2008 presidential race, when Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton choked up during a campaign appearance in New Hampshire right before the state's primary. Clinton ended up pulling an upset victory in New Hampshire over Barack Obama, and some suggested the episode may have had an impact on voters. 

The Gingrich event on Thursday was sponsored by Moms Matter 2012.

Watch Gingrich get teary-eyed in Iowa: