Gingrich Says He's More Mature

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich says he's more mature than he was as speaker of the House and has learned to watch what he says.

In an interview with The Associated Press during a campaign swing through Georgia, Gingrich said Friday he "is slower and more disciplined" and that he has learned to let "larger teams carry the load."

Gingrich said it took him two years as speaker to learn that he had to change his message from that of the leader of an insurgent GOP minority.

But then, he said, "the damage had been done.

The Republican — on the campaign trail for the first time since officially jumping into the 2012 race — stumped at Fincher's Barbeque in Macon, Ga. shaking hands with supporters wearing "Newt 2012" stickers.