Gingrich team clarifies exploratory committee talk
Washington (CNN) – Newt Gingrich's political team scrambled to clarify the former House Speaker's presidential intentions late Tuesday after multiple news organizations reported that Gingrich plans to announce the formation a presidential exploratory committee during a trip to Georgia on Thursday.
Throughout the day, Republicans familiar with Gingrich's plans told numerous media outlets, including CNN, that Gingrich will enter a presidential exploratory phase during a trip to Atlanta on Thursday, when he is slated to meet with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.
Joe Gaylord, Gingrich's longtime political adviser, told the Des Moines Register that the formation of an exploratory committee is a certainty.
"It is exactly that, an exploratory committee," Gaylord told the newspaper. "But you can't say that this is tantamount to an announcement of candidacy. It is the announcement of an exploratory committee that says, 'is it really feasible for me to do this, and let me check this out in the next six or seven weeks, because I want to find out if it's real before I do it."
But Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler circulated a statement to reporters Tuesday night contradicting Gaylord's assertion.
"Gingrich is not traveling to Georgia to announce that he will form 'an exploratory committee' as stated in the Des Moines Register," Tyler said. "To be clear, while Speaker Gingrich is in Georgia on Thursday, he will NOT announce the formation of an exploratory committee."
Despite the conflicting messages emerging from the Gingrich camp, the former House Speaker is nevertheless expected to make presidential news following his appearance with Deal at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday.
He is still likely to announce his intention to explore running for president on Thursday in Atlanta, but it appears he will not file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to form an actual committee.
It remains unclear whether Gingrich will continue working as a political contributor for Fox News as he explores a presidential bid. Fox News did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday
His intentions are about as clear as his Contract with America was when he was Speaker of the House. This guy wants to be President ?
this guy would be a disaster.
Waste of money. Either donate it toward national debt or contribute to Romney or Christie's campaign.
Newt and Haley Barbour ?
There is nothing to declare or explain unless there was a problem with the colonoscopy. This is another name on the list of thousands to not be presidents in 2012.
Please please un so we can have another 4 years of President Obama. I have complete faith in the American voter than they see through your desperate attempt to get approval. You would saY OR DO ANYTHING TO GET A VOTE. pEOPLE DO NOT HAVE AS SHORT TERM A MEMORY AS YOU HOPE. wE REMEMBER THE MESS YOU CREATED AS sPEAKER AND THE HYPOCRISY OF TRYING TO REMOVE pRESIDENT cLINTON FROM OFFICE. wHO WAS IT THAT ACTUALLY LOST HIS JOB???? yOU DID. I guess if you decide to be foolish enough to run, we better prepare ourselves for fear, fear, fear dialogue because that is the only way you know to get attention you and sister sarah by trying to frighten people into voting for you. Frankly the American public would be so much better off if you just shut up and went away. YOU CANNOT WIN
He should save his money and his time!! I just don't get these politicians that can't see that time has changed since their tenure holding public office. In the case Newt here, his ego can't get him to see that most folks in his party would not vote for him. So the question one must ask is this just something for him to put in another one of his memoirs?
Of course they have to give a good explanation to keep that Faux salary.