Gingrich says he's a potential 2012 contender
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/12/newt.0811.gi.jpg caption="Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he's among a handful of Republican candidates who are thinking about running for president in 2012."](CNN) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he's among a handful of Republican candidates who are thinking about running for president in 2012.
"I think I'm probably on a list of seven or eight possible candidates at this stage," Gingrich reportedly told reporters in North Carolina Wednesday before speaking to a gathering of conservatives. Joe DeSantis, Gingrich's communications director, confirmed the accuracy of the quotes to CNN.
"We have a lot of people around the country who would like to have somebody who represents a commitment to replace the current failed programs and to develop a set of solutions that are practical and workable," Gingrich also said.
Among the other Republican candidates Gingrich named as possible 2012 contenders included former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Also included on Gingrich's list are Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Mitch Daniels of Indiana, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Rick Perry of Texas and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. South Dakota Sen. John Thune may also be a potential candidate, Gingrich said.
Gingrich said he would make a decision about his own political future next year after discussing the prospect of a presidential bid with his wife.
Gingrich's comments come days after organizers of The Southern Republican Leadership Conference - a high-profile gathering of party activists considered to be an initial venue for potential GOP presidential candidates - announced the former House Speaker will be among the list of Republican speakers. Palin and Pawlenty are also expected to attend the event.
Gingrich also recently filed government paperwork to form a political action committee, named American Solutions PAC, according to Federal Election Commission records. The forming of a political action committee will allow Gingrich to raise cash and donate the money to federal and state candidates across the country. It could also be a sign that Gingrich is serious about running for the White House in 2012.
American Solutions is also the name of Gringrich's political organization, which is incorporated as a 527 group, and is not subject to the same contribution limits as political action committees. Unlike PACs, 527s can also directly accept funds from corporations but are barred from directly contributing to a candidate or financing a potential White House bid.
- CNN's Paul Steinhauser and Peter Hamby contributed to this report
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like i am ever going to vote for a man who has never had a wife he could not cheat on and then marry the woman he was cheating with and then cheat on her.
newt go home!
Wow. The dearth of Republican creativity is amazing . . .
Posting here since CNN closed comments for the "Tax The Wealthy?" Article...
Darn right. Tax the wealthy CEOs and high paid "pay for (failing) performance" executives who earn 25 – 100 times+ more than the average U.S. worker. With salaries, bonuses, stock options, perks, leave/ bail but pay anyway contract clauses, et al, yeah TAX THEM MORE! Further investigate, indict and prosecute those who perpetrate illegal off shore accounts and tax shields to avoid taxes too. This costs our treasury billions. And re-evaluate tax shields that mean they often avoid paying a corollary fair share. So what if they have to only have 4,000 square foot houses than 8,000...or two instead of four houses, and two instead of four high end cars. I do not mean to sound like an alarmist, but my instinct tells me if things do not become more equatable and corruption (Enron, Worldcom, Goldman Sachs, AIG, Haliburton, Madoff...the list goes on) minimized there is going to be social and generational warfare. I do not condone it, but I am amazed that with the billions of dollars and jobs lost some of the failure banking CEOs, et al corporate swine have not been systematically sniped/ offed by someone...seriously!
No way do I see Gingrich becoming Pres, both he and Sarah Palin are living in a dream world, none of us are that dumb
"Gingrich said he would make a decision about his own political future next year after discussing the prospect of a presidential bid with his wife."' Unless she develops a serious illness and leaves him no choice but to divorce her whilst she is hospitalized in which case he will discuss it with his girlfriend.
Is he a wrestling or boxing contender? Don't get it...
In his right-wing blowhard fathead dreams....
I'm an independent. Not a liberal (fiscally) nor a conservative (socially.) Definitely not ideologically rigid but pragmatic. Most likely a libertarian. I value personal freedoms and do not like Govt interfering with them in any way. Out of all those candidates, Gingrich would be the best pick (from the list if I was ordered to pick one) but he has NO chance of beating Sarah Palin in the primaries if she ran. She is insanely popular and would appeal more to the GOP far right. I also like Huckabee (when it comes to economics ) but he's insanely dogmatic in his religious views and hawkish. He would never attract any liberal or moderates who don't play to his social conservative values. The others are complete unknowns (relatively) and grossly uncharismatic and would get drilled in a general election by Obama unless he screwed up really really bad by tanking the economy. Jindal, Gingrich and Huckabee are very good debaters (one on one) and would fair very well against Obama but Obama kills both in public speeches and soaring rhetoric which matters alot in persuading the fence sitters in a GE.
So which one of the republicans will be fiddling when the country is in flames-Newt maybe. All I can say if you vote for that pack of lies by the same party who was in power the last 15 years than we are in Big Trouble.
I wonder if Mitch Daniels is aware that his name is being floated?He took stimulus money for Indiana.Tea party litmus test failure. Newt blew that one. His list is null and void.
Get Pat Robertson as a running make you two would make a great pair of fear mongers for the GoP to rally behind.
If that's the best the GOP has to offer, maybe Ron Paul ought to try again. A good third party candidate may just take it.
@Raj – what will you do if the GOP fails in their promises to you as well? Who will you vote for then? Oh, and I think the GOP has failed us - the previous administration ran (in its first term) on a campaign of bringing honesty and integrity back to the WH. We know how that turned out ...
Remember, we aren't limited to the 2 parties the media wishes to promote. Perhaps they should start promoting all the candidates ... or we could do our own homework.
Let him run...and Obama will win hands down. What a joke!
Why don't the republication start changing the system now and not wait till 2010 or 2012? We need help now. How are they going to help? and Sarah Palin Pleaaaaaaaaaaaase.
FOR WHAT? He is too old!!!
Unless he do like Regan and dye his hair for life, he don't stand a chance. Running for President also require the look and he don't have it. Do your research over the election since Regan.
it is about how you look. The younger you look the better your chance of getting the job. Why because it show you can relate to the younger generation. He don't stand a chance!!!
is this what the conservatives have to offer what a JOKE now I am
sure that its not about the people in this country, but about the selfish
people that support them they are only concern is what it is in it for them
I am still waiting to see any republican after there political career go
out on there own and help other people they like to talk the talk but
they sure don't walk the walk
Has he looked in a mirror? The presidency is the ultimate popularity contest of the USA. He looks like a biochemistry experiement gone wrong. Charisma matters, and he has none of it.
Gingrich "would make a decision next year after discussing it with his wife" My question is WHICH wife Newt? This year's, next year's or the one you're going to have in 2012?
Regardless I know that we real Americans with family values can count on you.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! I just cant believe this guy actually thinks he has a chance, like we forget what him and his buddies did to this country!!!!!!!!!! you already had your shot newt and failed, your own party doesnt even trust you.
Not a big Newt fan but I admire his knowledge of history and the Constitution and I'd rather have him flying the plane that the current group.
I'd never vote for him, but he's a smart man and I have to admit that I'd love watching him tear the vacuous Sarah Palin apart. It would be loads of fun watching Newt and the rest of 2012 Presidential GOP eat her alive.
There are no perfect candidates*, but he'd be great. I'd prefer Mitt Romney because of his leadership, honesty and skills with the economy.
*Obama was a great candidate, but not so good as the president.
And then we will have another, do nothing "contract for america?" Is this all they got.........furgetaboutit......."slaughter time". Do republicans really think we have forgotten the misery of the last 8. And Guilaini, ALL OF IT HAPPENED ON THIER WATCH. WANT ME TO NAME THEM, later have to work.
Well one thing is for sure and that is that Republicans may have found a replacement for Sarah Palin in Gingrich. I really thought it would be hard to find a person with more empty space between their ears than she has but I guess that once in a while it is OK to be wrong.
Newt is going to run on campaign of terror and false lies. Something that Palin did when she was running as VP. Hes going to say something like "Obama support terrorist, hes a terrorist himself, hes not America and he wasn't born in the US." Basically we are going to hear the repeat of 2008.