Gingrich wins endorsement of Tim LaHaye, evangelical author of 'Left Behind' series

Newt Gingrich earned the endorsement of Tim LaHaye, an evangelical Christian minister and author of the Left Behind series of novels, in what could provide an important boost among conservative South Carolina voters.

In a letter sent to South Carolina pastors, LaHaye praised Gingrich as being in the best "strategic position to improve America," and said that late evangelical leader Jerry Falwell told him in conversations before his 2007 death that Gingrich was "the most qualified man in America to run as president of the United States."

“During the last three years our nation has been led by liberal secularists who have tried their best to remove God from our public square and the elimination of the Biblical principles our founding fathers built this nation on” said LaHaye in the statement. 

“Please prayerfully consider going to the polls on January 21 and help elect Newt Gingrich, a proven conservative who has the best chance of replacing the present occupant of the White House with a man with a proven record of appointing conservatives to office that can return this country to the constitutional principles that God has chosen to bless for over two hundred years.”

LaHaye's Left Behind series has sold tens of millions of copies and dominated The New York Times bestseller list. The novels, which chronicle a fictionalized version of the biblical end times, had been adapted into a movie trilogy and video game.

Gingrich named LaHaye as national co-chairman of his Faith Leaders Coalition.

"I am honored to have Tim's endorsement. His work as both a minister and author is truly unmatched," said Gingrich in a statement. "Tim will be a terrific partner for the Gingrich Faith Leaders Coalition as we work to combat the influence of radical secularism and activist judges."

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