Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is adamant about staying in the race despite the resignations from his top aides yesterday. Speaking to reporters Gingrich acknowledged Friday that he and his staffers “had a strategic disagreement about how to run a campaign.”

The former House Speaker also posted a message on the social networking site Facebook Friday where he wrote that he still intends to run.

“As someone who has been in public life for nearly forty years, I know full well the rigors of campaigning for public office,” Gingrich wrote. “I will endure them. I will carry the message of American renewal to every part of this great land, whatever it takes.”

Gingrich recently came under fire for leaving the country to take a two-week cruise to the Greek islands just after announcing his campaign tour.

The former House Speaker addressed that criticism Friday.

“We live in a time when Americans are genuinely frightened for their country's future, and when the country really wants leadership that talks to them honestly and isn't automatically doing the old politics,” Gingrich told reporters. “We make decisions as a couple. I think most couples would find that refreshing.”

Following the en masse resignations, Tim Pawlenty’s campaign is benefiting from Gingrich’s campaign implosion. Former Gov. Sonny Perdue (R-Ga.), Gingrich’s former campaign co-chairman, announced Thursday that he was joining Pawlenty's campaign.

Gingrich’s entire paid staff in Iowa resigned along with his press spokesman Rick Tyler, campaign manager Rob Johnson, and top New Hampshire aide Dave Carney.

 

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