Tiny Hummelstown, Pa. Ready To Bask In Its Newt Gingrich Connection
By Tony Romeo
The mayor of a small Pennsyvlania town near Hershey says his community is bracing for the media onslaught that may result if one of its favorite sons wins the Republican nomination for president of the United States.
Hummelstown, Pa. is a tiny burg of less than 5,000 residents and the childhood home of Newt Gingrich.
Gingrich is a fairly common name in central Pennsylvania, an area with strong German roots.
Hummelstown mayor Brad Miller admits that not everyone in town supports the GOP presidential hopeful.
"I think the older part of town embraces Mr. Gingrich's candidacy," said Miller, using the more common local pronunciation, ging-rick. "I think the young part... I think there's mixed emotions on it."
But Miller thinks everybody in town enjoys the attention the Gingrich candidacy is bringing, especially when he mentions his roots in a debate, as the candidate did recently:
"Yes, I think that the idea of the town getting some attention because of him… I think most people are on board with that," Miller tells KYW Newsradio.
Miller says if the Gingrich connection brings more tourists, the town will be ready, since it's already planning its 250th anniversary celebration -- something to which the mayor expects the candidate will be invited.
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