Gingrich takes aim at Obama, Romney during campaign swing

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich believes he is the only a true conservative can defeat President Barack Obama in November, and wants to prove it. And he's not afraid to wage a little class warfare of his own.

During a campaign rally Monday night in Bloomington, Gingrich spoke to more than 400 people about his vision for the country and took aim at Obama and his main Republican rival, Mitt Romney. He said they were essentially the same candidate - accepting donations and other support from who he considered "the elite."

Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista at a campaign rally in Bloomington.

"You cannot stop the decay without very serious, difficult political concepts in Washington," he said.

Gingrich made his appearance on the eve of the Minnesota caucuses, a nonbinding straw poll voted on by Republican activists and potential delegates. Gingrich was believed to be a frontrunner among Republican voters in January, but is now trailing Rick Santorum and Romney by a few points according to the latest Public Policy poll.

In his speech, Gingrich compared himself to the late Ronald Reagan and urged Republicans and activists to nominate a conservative instead of a moderate like Romney. He argued that Republicans nominated moderate Republicans in 1996 and 2008 and lost because of that.

In order to do that, Gingrich said Republicans need bold ideas that will shake up Washington - even if they are made fun of on programs like "Saturday Night Live." His vision for the country would include smaller government, lower taxes, and

Gingrich laid out his vision for the country by shrinking the size of government, promoting job creation, and lowering taxes. He said that his bold ideas are needed even if they are made fun of on "Saturday Night Live"

"I'm really going to double down on my bet. I want to see 'Saturday Night Live' broadcast from the moon," he said.

The event not only attracted Gingrich supporters. It attracted opponents like MSNBC host Ed Schultz who smiled and waved at Gingrich at the conclusion of his speech, and a gay rights activist who briefly heckled Gingrich before being escorted out by security.