Politics | Newt Gingrich 2012 Newt: Campaign Worker's 'Fraud' Cost Me Virginia Gingrich says own staffer submitted false signatures By John Johnson Posted Dec 28, 2011 7:05 PM CST Copied Newt Gingrich speaks during a campaign stop at the Southbridge Mall in Mason City, Iowa, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) Newt Gingrich was in explaining mode today, with two notables: Virginia ballot: Gingrich said one of his own campaign workers cost him his bid to get on the state ballot. "We hired somebody who turned in false signatures," he said at a campaign stop in Iowa, according to CNN. "We turned in 11,100—we needed 10,000—1,500 of them were by one guy who frankly committed fraud." He offered no other details. Infamous cruise: He said a much-maligned Greek cruise he took in June with his wife was all part of a grand plan to gain "balance," reports the Des Moines Register. The trip ticked off his staff and contributed to a mass exodus of top-level staffers, but Gingrich compares it to Ronald Reagan's getaway trips to his ranch. “He was achieving a sense of balance and a sense of distance. He wasn’t sucked into Washington baloney,” said Gingrich. “We had been campaigning very hard and we had planned a long time to stop for 10 days to think. Again, I know this doesn’t fit the normal media model of how candidates operate.” Read These Next UPS driver hits the Slip 'N Slide with some partying teens. Kohberger agrees to plea deal in Idaho killings. Lorde's risque photo causes a fuss. Death certificate reveals Brian Wilson's cause of death. Report an error