Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will make a stop in Federal Way.

The Mirror has confirmed that the candidate will visit the city at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Best Western Evergreen Inn and Suites, 32124 25th Ave. S. (at I-5 and South 320th Street).

With the state’s caucuses on March 3, Washington has suddenly become a battleground for the crowded GOP field seeking the nomination for U.S. president. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) spoke at a rally Feb. 13 in Tacoma. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) made three stops in Washington, including a Seatac hotel on Feb. 16.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has struggled to keep his front-runner status throughout the race, is slated to visit the state March 1.

After finishing a close second to Santorum in Iowa and winning the New Hampshire primary, Romney has watched his lead volley among the other candidates. Gingrich’s campaign found new life after winning the South Carolina primary, while Santorum has surged with a string of caucus wins. Paul, whose supporters are well-organized in caucuses, gave Romney a run in the recent Maine caucus, finishing within 100 votes.

While in Washington state, Gingrich will make campaign stops in Spokane and the Tri-Cities on Thursday, according to media reports. So far for Friday, the campaign will host rallies in Olympia and Federal Way.

Gingrich served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. He represented the 6th Congressional District in Georgia from 1979 to 1999.

“I don’t ever remember a presidential candidate coming to Federal Way,” said resident Diana Noble-Gulliford, who heads the local historical society. Former candidate and Texas billionaire Ross Perot came to Highline Community College in Des Moines in 1992, she said.

“To me, access to these people by the average person is really important,” said Noble-Gulliford, who has been active in the area’s Republican party for nearly 40 years. Which candidate does she like for president?

“My mind’s not made up yet,” she said. “I’m still watching and waiting to see. Even though I’ve been a PCO with the Republican party since 1974, I’m not always sold on some of the things they propose to do.”