Newt Gingrich returns to Atlanta on Thursday for what is billed as a meeting with Gov. Nathan Deal to discuss how states can challenge edicts from the federal government.
But that rather dry discussion aside, the national political eye will be watching for whether Gingrich, who represented Georgia's 6th District for 20 years, announces that he is ready to run for president in 2012.
Conflicting messages from his camp have muddied the water a bit. News outlets across the country, including Iowa's Des Moines Register and ABC News, reported Gingrich would use his appearance with Deal, whom Gingrich endorsed in his bid for governor last year, to announce that he is forming a presidential exploratory committee. That would allow him to raise and spend money on a potential 2012 bid for the White House.
By late Tuesday, however, Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler e-mailed The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and others to say no formal announcement would be coming Thursday. In another development, however, Fox News announced Wednesday that it was suspending Gingrich as a commentator with the network.
“We can’t have Speaker Gingrich on our payroll while he is in the midst of an exploratory committee to see if he’s going to run for office,” a Fox executive told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s a clear conflict.”
Meanwhile, another potential contender, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, was in Atlanta on Wednesday for a series of meetings. Romney, who finished third in the 2008 Georgia presidential primary, was being squired around town by Eric Tanenblatt, a senior managing director of the McKenna Long law firm and a top GOP fundraiser. Romney also got a haircut at Tommy's in Buckhead, a legendary Atlanta barbershop.
"He had an engaging lunch with a group of business leaders where they talked about a number of issues facing the country with an emphasis on the economy and jobs," Tanenblatt said. "It was a good discussion."
Another Georgian, businessman and former radio host Herman Cain, has already formed an exploratory committee. Other potential candidates include former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 Georgia primary; former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee; Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour; and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
But, even with the first Republican contest on the 2012 calendar -- the Iowa caucuses -- less than a year away, few political leaders in Georgia are ready to commit to a candidate before he or she officially joins the race. While Deal has said he would support Gingrich's bid, should it come, lawmakers on Wednesday were largely noncommittal on the race.
State Rep. Tim Bearden, R-Villa Rica, whose district includes much of Gingrich's old stomping grounds, praised the former congressman.
"Newt Gingrich just has a brilliant mind," Bearden said. "He's got great ideas, and I think he's very innovative."
But while Bearden said he had "strong support" for Gingrich, he isn't ready to endorse him for president. State Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, who was the first major Georgia Republican to endorse U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for president in the 2008 campaign, said he is currently torn between Pawlenty and Gingrich.
"I'm leaning toward Pawlenty, but I have a lot of respect for Newt," Mullis said.
But state Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, has no qualms about backing Gingrich now.
"Knowing Speaker Gingrich the past 30 years and having worked closely with him only reinforces my belief that he is the best-qualified candidate for president," Hill said.
Kennesaw State University political scientist Kerwin Swint, a former GOP political consultant, said Gingrich can count on an immediate level of support from Georgia Republicans.
"There is still a pretty strong emotional connection," Swint said. "I don't think that's gone away or is significantly less than it was."
But, Swint warned, Gingrich's name "also carries with it a lot of baggage, even in Georgia."
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