Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich spoke to a packed crowd in LSU’s Dodson Auditorium Thursday evening.

Gingrich talked about what he would do if elected president.

“If someone says what’s my number one qualification for being president, it would be that I’m not Barack Obama,” Gingrich said.

Gingrich also said if he becomes president, he would want to shrink the United States Department of Education and make it research only. 

“Today we have thousands of people running around.  It’s absurd,” Gingrich said about the national government.

He said he would put all education regulations at the state level.  He would also encourage states to put more power over education in the local level.

Representatives for Republican presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, spoke about why their candidates are best fit for the presidency.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was not represented at the event.