MANATEE -- The Republican Party of Sarasota expects a crowd of 1,500 will attend a local rally for Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich the week before the Florida primary election.

“We urge people to come to this free event and bring a friend because everyone should meet these candidates before they vote,” said Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, which is co-hosting the event.

The Republican Party of Sarasota thinks it has four other Republican presidential candidates lined up for local visits, but until they are finalized, no announcements will be made, Gruters said.

“We are co-hosting the Gingrich event with the Republican parties of Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte as well as the Manatee County Tea Party,” Gruters said. “We are also waiting for a response from the Manatee County Republican Party, which may also co-host the Gingrich rally.

“It is our belief that the voters should meet these candidates one-on-one,” Gruters added. “Sometimes what the voters see on TV is filled with half-truths. We would like to see people make their decisions based on seeing and hearing the candidates in person.”

The Gingrich event is set for 1:45 p.m. Jan. 24 at Dolphin Aviation at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, 6000 Airport Circle, Manatee County, Gruters said last week.

“They will need to get their free tickets at sarasotaGOP.com,” Gruters said. “They can print out their own tickets at that site.”

Gingrich, a former U.S. House Speaker who finished right behind the three front-runners in the recent Iowa caucuses, will be attending an earlier Sarasota fundraiser before heading for Dolphin Aviation, where he will spend about an hour, Gruters said.

Florida’s presidential primary is the nation’s fourth, following Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.