CUMMING - Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will be headlining the Forsyth County Republican Party's mass precinct meeting Feb. 18.

The former speaker of the U.S. House will address the crowd during the meeting, set for 10 a.m. at South Forsyth High School.

Ethan Underwood, chairman of the local party, said it will not back any candidate until they are selected by the Republican nominee. However, he's excited to have one of the remaining candidates speak prior to the state's March 6 presidential primary.

"You're looking at a final four candidate for the Republican presidential nomination," Underwood said. "And as the last primaries have shown, the ball is still in play and we don't know who's going to win the primary. If we can get one of those remaining candidates here in Forsyth County, I think a lot of people are going to want to come hear from him."

Underwood said he originally expected fewer than 200 people at Saturday's meeting. With Gingrich, however, that likely will reach 400. In addition to Gingrich, the meeting will also include an election, the main function of the mass precinct meeting.

Voters will convene to elect delegates to represent various precincts in the county convention next month.