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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I like Newt, but he's not really a contender....
Heavens help us another Palin running for president. Wasn't he one of those that also had an extra maritial affair and resigned. Jim Hall Kansas City. Missouri
Sorry Newt, you are not going to unite this country. Sarah Palin won't either. The GOP needs to wake up and come up with a candidate who is perceived as moderate, an effective administrator and someone who is for the working man as Reagan did.
These extremists won't do it.
I saw Newt speak one time, and he is a brilliant strategist. He would be great helping the party, perhaps as the leader of the GOP. But as a candidate, he would immediately alienate half the electorate.
The GOP really needs to reinvent itself.
Yo
The country is still trying to untangle all the deregulation mischief set in motion from his last time in office. Why would we want to do that again?
With his closet so full of skeletons, what fun the media would have with his draft dodging, adultery, numerous girlfriends, not to mention he is a deadbeat dad, He's the scum who asked his wife for a divorce while she was still in the hospital recoverying from cancer surgery, suggesting she wasn't young and goodlooking enough for him anymore. When the Clinton scandal broke, guess who was right up front condemning him and his womanizing. Can't wait for the media circus.
Compare his pic (jowls, old, white) to the pic of Shaddegg (jowls, old, white).
They've never missed a meal or a money-making deal – vote them all out.
For the Obama 2012 crowd, all I have to say is rigggghhhht....pass me some of what you're smoking. We are now living the results of a not ready for prime time player and we see the results of Obama's failed political and economic policies and ability to even make limited leadership quality decisions. I will assure you by the time 2012 rolls around, Obama will either not run from the stress or will be massacred by an Independent (aka revamped GOP) based on the failed economic policies and corruption that will be disclosed. I think the scare claim of "racism" will no longer stop political opponents from removing Obama's cloak of "transparency" (sic), America is sick of paying taxes for those that won't and don't as well as being servants to the special interest corporate conglomerates, most assuredly our next true leader will not be a Democrat.
I thought their were only 3 stooges. I had know idea there were so many.
He is about the only person who stands a chance to fix this country after that fool Obama destroys it. Don't wory Dems, there is not a chance in HE_ _ that another Democrat will be in the white house for decades. Obama blew that one for ya.
If he runs for President of United States, we will be in big trouble. You think the last republican administration would be enough for this country. We got into the current mess because of the republicans. He is the worst of the worst. Look back into history and what do they stand for: corruption, secrecy and not for growth, no accountability. He couldn't even stand by his wife on her dying bed with cancer. He wanted a divorce so he could marry his current wife. How uncaring is that!
WHY WHY WHY do we have to listen to the incessant chatter of Republicans all the time about what they're going to do in the next election, and who's running, etc etc. Obama is only a year in and it's nothing but them talking about 2012. I'm sick of it already. And now this loser is stepping up to the plate??
Newt's Contract on America was as defunct as his marriage contract was with his wife! We don't need another conservative republican hypocrite in the White House.
Pretty clear how biased the CNN audience here is. Yeah, CNN is middle-of-the-road. NOT!
Good old Newt has escaped from the rest home and is off his meds again. Newt, sorry dude, but you're more washed up than 3-year old, thin-ribbed, wife-beater tee-shirt, and your politics smell even worse. Please go back to your cave and take Palin, Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Beck with you.
It seems everyone wants to take advantage of President Obama's first year. Just because he has made a few mistakes early does not mean that he will not turn it around in the next few years. Only about half the people listed could even be close to beating him.
.........TOO, TOO, TOO, MANY, MANY, SKELTONS. IN HIS CLOSET.....
Gingrich and Palin create a lot of noise but the reality is they appeal to the extreme right. Gingrich is a windbag and Palin hasn't a clue. Bring them on.
Given the performance of the political party in charge of running our nation I'd be willing to bet that if NO ONE ran for president in 2012 Obama would lose.
2010 and 2012 will be a good start in getting our country back, hopefully with a redefined republican party or an independent party. We've seen, at least partially, the damage that a socialistic philosophy can bring to us in such a short amount of time.
Obama is a nice guy but he he is (still) not qualified to lead the US.
Another "family values" guy who is on his third wife after telling one of the first two he was divorcing her while she was in cancer treatment. Yep, that's GOP "morality" for ya!
Mission to Accountability to the Truth...
Truth is by hearing and hearing is by the Word of God...
Jesus Christ our Savior told us the truth.........
It is proven all mankind is vulnerable to sin and in need of a savior
Mission for good government
1- Control our borders
2 – Make Public Hearings more accessible for all Representative and Civic Groups
3- Show all citizens the history of the Constitution and its predominance to a Providence of a Sovereign God of the universe.
4- Show that the individual can lead a sovereign and accountable life through faith away from big government. Show everyone that an educated community is a strong community. That the family is the framework of a strong community. Tell people why the United States of America is the only country that has not changed hands in the last 266 years. We should show why the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has shown his Providence of this country all these years.
We can only hope its newt or painlin or rush or hannitty.
These guys have been drinking their own Kool-Aid for too long. If Gingrich thinks he can beat Obama in 2012 he's out of his mind. Or maybe he just wants a job on Fox?
Wow, not only is Newt a complete joke, to both sides, the list he gives of potential canidates is even worse. Jindel, maybe, but the rest of the crowd falls in line with that right wing nut job. It's too bad the GOP can't find the guts to get away from the Evangelical crowd. they might actually have a fighting chance then. Thank God that they are not smart enough to know better. Obama 2012!!
You have got to be kidding me!!! This old fossel will never be president, you guys must want Obama to win again.
Yeah, that's what we need, another blowhard that still believes in Reaganomics.