COEUR d'ALENE - GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich wants everybody to share one idea with their friends and family.

That "I represent $2.50 a gallon gasoline," the former U.S. Speaker of the House said at a rally Thursday night at the Coeur d'Alene Best Western Inn.

The price of gas now is a major part of Gingrich's game plan as he seeks to become president.

He said President Barack Obama was responsible for "the most expensive gas in history" in 2011.

Gingrich made two appearances in Coeur d'Alene Thursday night. The other was at a fundraiser at a home on Neachen Bay, where tickets to the event were $1,000 each.

At the fundraiser Gingrich told backers he believes he can pull off four or five victories in contests on Super Tuesday, which would make him the clear conservative alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

"I think the last 'not-Romney' standing will be Newt Gingrich," he said.

He said he'll be fighting hard in Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota and Idaho. He also thinks he's got a good chance to win Texas, with the help of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Gingrich said Romney has to outspend him by a five-to-one margin to win.

In an interview with The Press between the fundraiser and rally, Gingrich said his views match well with Idaho voters.

"I'm a life member of the National Rifle Association, and was honored by them for lifetime legislative achievement," he said.

He's for lower taxes, he said, adding, "I think most Idahoans would find my proposal for a 15 percent flat tax something they'd really like and they could identify with."

He said he favored "a common sense, local management approach" for Idaho forests, which he believes would be better for the ecosystem and the economy.

Gingrich said he first visited Coeur d'Alene in 1987 for either a speaking engagement or fundraiser.

"Dick Cheney used to tell me that there was no place better in America to go for fishing than Idaho," Gingrich recalled.

At the rally, Gingrich said, "All I'm trying to do is get back to a pre-Obama America."

If elected, he would immediately permit the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf, open up new oil drilling sites, abolish every White House czar, "repeal every single anti-religious act" of the Obama administration, among other actions.

He said he would repeal 40 percent of the Obama administration's work on his first day in office.

"I believe the economy starts to turn around late on election night," he told the packed crowd at the hotel.

He promised the audience he would replace the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with an "Environmental Solutions Agency."

He told the crowd he has posted a 30-minute video on his website in which he describes how he'll greatly reduce the price of gas, which has been rising lately.

Gingrich also criticized Obama's record as commander in chief, saying Obama is "the most dangerous president in our lifetime."

He said the Obama administration has "failed completely to convince the Iranians to stop building nuclear weapons," adding that Obama is risking the security of Israel.

Gingrich didn't just attack Obama, he took a couple shots at Romney, too, which the audience found amusing.

"Governor Romney at times is severely distanced from the facts," he said. "He's not a severe conservative."

Romney described himself as "severely conservative" at a conservative political meeting earlier this month.

Gene Stone, a Kootenai County resident who attended the rally Thursday with his wife, Sheri, said they're supporting Gingrich in the upcoming Idaho Republican presidential caucus on March 6.

"Gingrich is the smartest guy running," Stone said. "He has a lot of experience. He did a terrific job as Speaker of the House."

He likes that Gingrich is articulate, has good ideas, and would do well debating Obama.

Multiple people after the rally said they liked Gingrich because he's not afraid to "tell it like it is."

Lynn Plaggemeier, of Spokane Valley, said after the rally that he likes Gingrich's credentials. He's supporting Gingrich in the Washington caucus next month.

"I think he has such a strong background," he said. "I hope he does pick up in the polls though."

Gingrich has been polling behind both Romney and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, of Pennsylvania.

Another Gingrich supporter, Clayton Boehrig, of Spokane Valley, said, "I just like his solutions. I like the fact that he's done something" as a former House Speaker.

"Bottom line, he got stuff done" as speaker and "pissed people off on both sides of the isle."

He thinks Gingrich has the best and boldest ideas, compared with Santorum, Romney and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, of Texas.

"We need big solutions," Boehrig said.

Supporter Wendell Beard, of Post Falls, likes Gingrich's experience and his pledge to reduce gas prices to $2.50 a gallon.

Grinning, Beard said, "And I like the way he handles the press," referring to Gingrich's at times prickly exchanges with members of the national TV media.