Gingrich, Santorum in GOP forum this afternoon

Published 11:04 am Monday, March 12, 2012

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will take part in a forum for Republican presidential candidates this evening at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham.

The forum, sponsored by the Alabama Republican Party, will feature the candidates one by one instead of in a debate format.

The party invited all four of the remaining primary candidates to appear. Texas Rep. Ron Paul declined repeated offers, while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — the current front-runner in the race for convention delegates — had still not committed one way or the other as of midday.

The forum is free and open to the public, but only 2,000 seats are available. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with the forum scheduled to start at 5:30. Party spokeswoman Shana Kluck advises those planning on attending to arrive early to avoid being shut out.