CUMMING, Ga. — Newt Gingrich, returning to his home state Sunday to try to regain a top spot in the GOP nominating race, told a crowd in a megachurch here that America’s “secular left” is trying to create a “government without meaning.”

Newt Gingrich speaks during a visit to First Redeemer Church on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, in Cumming, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

It was the first of what will be many Georgia campaign stops this week for Mr. Gingrich ahead of Super Tuesday, March 6,, when Georgia Republicans go to the polls.

The harsh language comes as Rick Santorum has successfully courted many of the party’s social conservatives. That fact was further illustrated Sunday by Mr. Gingrich’s visit here to First Redeemer Church, where Mr. Santorum spoke exactly a week ago. Last Sunday evening, the former Pennsylvania senator drew nearly 4,000 supporters who also filled an overflow room next door. Mr. Gingrich, who attended a Sunday morning service, spoke to about 2,300 people from the main sanctuary…