Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich brought his struggling presidential campaign to the Biltmore Hotel Thursday night for a fund-raising dinner and a series of media interviews.   

When asked how he’ll keep his campaign going if he places no better than second or third in South Carolina, Gingrich said, “I don’t plan on coming in second.  I’m going to win South Carolina.”

Gingrich placed fourth in Iowa and fourth in the New Hampshire primary, but he still exudes confidence. 

He also is not apologetic about his harsh criticisms of Mitt Romney’s tenure as head of Bain Capital, the venture capital firm. 

“I’m all for venture capital,” Gingrich said. “I’m all for free enterprise, but there are times when these companies have excesses. It’s not a question of legalities, it’s a question of judgment and we are talking about a potential president of the United States.” 

Gingrich, who voted for the Helms-Burton bill and supported Radio and TV Marti while in the House, says as president he’d roll back travel to Cuba to where it was under President George W. Bush.  He also criticized the Obama administration for failing to pay enough attention to not only Cuba, but to all of Latin America.

“I think the administration has been asleep about Latin America,” Gingrich said.

A Gingrich spokesman declined to say how many people were expected at the fund-raising dinner, only that it would be a small group that would contribute generously. 

On Friday morning Gingrich will hold a campaign rally at Versailles restaurant in Little Havana.