Gingrich To Address Minnesota Social Conservatives

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Republican Newt Gingrich is pulling off the presidential campaign trail in Iowa to appear at a series of events put on by a socially conservative Minnesota group.

In his second week as an official White House candidate, Gingrich was due Tuesday afternoon in Minneapolis for a speech and book signing. The events interrupt a 17-stop tour of Iowa that began Monday and runs into the weekend.

The Minnesota Family Council, which is hosting Gingrich, says a dinner program featuring the former House speaker and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is closed to the news media. Donors are being asked to pay a minimum of $100 to attend the dinner speeches.

Bachmann is also exploring a presidential campaign and says she'll decide by June.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)