
(CNN) – Newt Gingrich announced Monday he received the backing of Todd Palin, husband of former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
At an early afternoon Rotary Club meeting in Nashua, New Hampshire, Gingrich said he just learned of the developments.
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"About 20 minutes ago I got a very nice phone call from Todd Palin, Sarah's husband, and he indicated he was going to endorse me today," Gingrich said.
The 2012 GOP hopeful later sent out a message on his Twitter account, saying, "Honored to be endorsed by Todd Palin. President Obama has failed. We need a Bold Reagan Conservative in the WH."
Gingrich's message linked to an article on the website of ABC News, which first reported Todd Palin's endorsement.
In a statement released by Gingrich's campaign, Palin touted the candidate's leadership skills.
"Newt Gingrich is a true leader, which he has proven not only since the beginning of his campaign, but throughout his career," Palin wrote. "Just like Sarah, Newt has faced many successes and challenges. Despite his consultants leaving him last summer, Newt is still standing because of his ideas and his success in the debates – not by spending millions of dollars in campaign ads."
Todd Palin, often referred to as the "First Dude" by his wife when she was serving as Alaska's governor, has long served as one of Sarah Palin's closest political advisers.
Sarah Palin has yet to publicly endorse a candidate.
Also see:
Santorum to South Carolina: 'Step up'
Paul looking forward to South Carolina, caucus states


The next 45th President of United States = Gov Mitt Romney.
What a joke. Who in the world would care who this family of losers would endorse?
Todd Palin's endorsement ranks right up there with David Duke's wife's endorsement. The spouse of a former looney extremist political figure. If Gingrich is "honored" by such an association, he must be desperate indeed. Who will be next to endorse him? Snooki?
Todd Palin could very well be the most worthless person on the planet.
Todd Palin's endorsement? Well that settles it right there! Now I know who to back.
CNN – please find out who Bozo the Clown is endorsing. That would be of equal importance to me.
Poor Newt.
Yeah, well, my son thinks I should be President, and his endorsement will have at least as much impact on the election as Todd Palin's.
this is huge.What an honor. You go Newt. Goodbye Obama. Thank you Todd
Anyone honored to get Todd Palin's endorsement for President will not get my vote.
Well, there it is...the warmup to Sarah's VP run again. She can't do Romney because the other leetch (McCain) has already got first dibbs on the VP there. The real bad news is, here are two people who were united to make a run at the Presidency and now their views are contrasting. Lucky for the USA the big O got in. What a disaster that would've been. 4 years of sniping is what you would've got because of each others EGO.
this is so huge bigger than US steel, general Motors, national debt- oh, god. this is it. Newt is in.
What is aTodd Palin?
Like a retard endorsing the best tasting paint chip
I understand HOUSE is endorsing Ron Paul because of his medical background.
The article is in itself hilarious – but the postings here have me laughing my butt off !
Thank you all for the comments to this article – 99.9 percent of you have made my day !!!
Nobody Cares about Todd Palin or who endorses...
What's the second prize? An endorsement from Charlie Sheen?
Now there's a BIG important endorsement.
Well, now he's got my vote for sure!!!!
Wow, Mr. Sarah Palin speaks. His opinion and $7.00 will buy you a latte at Starbucks.
And in other news filed under "WHO CARES?" I rearranged my sock drawer today. Whoop de doo!
Eyes roll back into head, large amount of laughter heard!
Who's endorsement can we expect you'll announce next, Newt? Koko the Clown?
No one cares.