Gingrich says home state win will be crucial By Tom Cohen, CNN February 19, 2012 -- Updated 1428 GMT (2228 HKT) Newt Gingrich says losing his home state of Georgia on Super Tuesday would hurt All candidates need to win their home states, Gingrich says The next primaries are on February 28 in Michigan and Arizona Some consider Michigan the home turf of candidate Mitt Romney Washington (CNN) -- Newt Gingrich conceded Sunday that losing his home state of Georgia in the upcoming Super Tuesday primaries in March would "badly" weaken his candidacy. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Gingrich added that if either of his chief rivals for the Republican presidential nomination lose their home states -- Mitt Romney in Michigan and Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania -- they also would be "badly, badly weakened." However, Gingrich stopped short of saying he would drop out if he fails to win Georgia on March 6. "Give the chaos of this race, I'm not willing to say anything," Gingrich commented, adding: "I think it's extraordinarily important to win your home state." Romney faces the first test, with Michigan's primary on February 28. The Pennsylvania primary is on April 24. The dynamic of the Republican race has continually shifted, with Romney's position at or near the top the only consistent factor. However, the former Massachusetts governor has been unable to broaden his support through the early primaries, while Santorum has surged in recent weeks to supplant Gingrich as Romney's main conservative challenger.