As Time‘s Person of the Century, Albert Einstein, once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Our nation is being suffocated with debt and its citizens crushed by the repetition of failed policies. America must end the insanity coming out of Washington and begin the road to recovery by defeating President Obama on Nov. 6, 2012.

The most important election of our lifetime is now less than a year away. As Iowans, we have the great responsibility in choosing the next president of the United States. We have the unique and privileged opportunity to speak with presidential candidates personally. I have been fortunate enough to meet with the entire slate of 2012 Republican candidates on more than one occasion. This election cycle in particular, Republicans should all be proud of the tremendous depth our candidates display as they compete for our party’s nomination.

The Iowa caucuses, to all Iowa College Republicans dismay, have been moved up to Jan. 3, 2012. With a majority of Iowans undecided for whom they will vote, the nomination remains up for grabs.

We have seen the consequences of electing politicians who lack experience and leadership. To return America back to prosperity, we need a leader with experience implementing bold solutions. We need a leader who has shown that they know how to get America working again.

That leader is Newt Gingrich.

Unlike the current administration, Newt is not blind to the difficulties facing our nation in this perilous time. The 21st Century Contract with America shows a deep understanding of the scale and scope of the problems facing America. Under Gingrich’s leadership as speaker, Congress passed the first balanced budget in a generation. In four years, Gingrich oversaw the creation of a stable economic environment that created 11 million jobs, while reforming welfare programs, restoring funding to strengthen our defense capabilities, expanding NIH research programs, and repaying over $400 billion in federal debt.

Putting Americans back to work needs to be the administration’s highest priority. While our current administration disagrees, a Gingrich administration will ensure that America’s focus on job-creation never waivers. Instead of baseless rhetoric and empty promises, Newt has practical and innovative ideas to solve some of our toughest problems. Nothing will help our deficit or protect our future more soundly than transitioning Americans from a government-dependent economy to an independently productive economy.

Today at 2:45, Gingrich will introduce his highly anticipated platform on developing brain science at the University of Iowa. His plan is the boldest plan of any presidential candidate, focusing on common diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, autism, and others has the potential to save our government trillions of dollars in Medicare funding in the future. This innovative proposal will provide a great export to the rest of the world and will create the type of jobs that Americans need more than ever.

Every GOP insider knows that Gingrich alone demands a seat at the table in the next administration. They knows that his debate and oratory skills are unmatched. Every GOP insider knows he is the candidate with the greatest record of success at the federal level. Similarly, not one GOP insider will count Newt out until every last vote is counted on election night.

Do your country a favor — don’t be fooled by a 20-second soundbite. We must be the ones to change the conversation and demand substance. I beg you to use your responsibility as an Iowan voter wisely and diligently do your research. Look over all the candidates’ websites and watch the debates. Make up your own mind on whom you want to support, but in making this decision, consider who has the experience, record, and ideas to lead our nation back from the brink. America needs a brilliant leader through these trying times.

Time may have said it best about its 1995 Man of the Year, "Leaders make things possible. Exceptional leaders make them inevitable. Newt Gingrich belongs in the category of the exceptional." I will proudly caucus for Newt Gingrich on Jan. 3, and I ask that you join me in ensuring that America’s best days still lie ahead.

Natalie Ginty is a senior biochemistry major at the University of Iowa and chairwoman of the Iowa Federation of College Republicans.