The race for the Republican presidential nomination will have a decidedly Georgia flavor as former Congressman Newt Gingrich on Wednesday became the second candidate with serious Peach State credentials to enter the race.
Gingrich had previously been awfully clear he intended to run, but he made it official late Wednesday afternoon with a message to supporters via Twitter and Facebook and a video posted to his website.
"I believe we can return America to hope and opportunity, to full employment, to real security, to an American energy program, to a balanced budget," the former U.S. House speaker said in the video.
While Gingrich now lives in Virginia, he has family and offices in Georgia and will have his campaign based largely in Buckhead, spokesman Rick Tyler told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His first speech as a presidential candidate will come Friday when he addresses the Georgia GOP's state convention in Macon.
"We will have a major campaign headquarters in Atlanta," Tyler said, adding that a smaller office will be opened in Virginia.
Tyler declined to make Gingrich available for an interview. Speaking to the Fox News Channel later Wednesday, Gingrich, borrowing a phrase from President Barack Obama, whom he hopes to replace, said he was running because the country needs someone who can apply the "right principles to achieve the right results" to "win the future together."
The location of the headquarters in Atlanta is similar to the way that then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's 2008 campaign for the White House was based out of Chicago. Even though Obama didn't spend a whole lot of time there, it's where the campaign phone rang and where the checks got signed.
No matter where Gingrich's mail might get delivered, he still considers himself a Georgian, said Mel Steely, Gingrich's former colleague and author of Gingrich's official biography.
"His family is here, he's got grandchildren in Atlanta," said Steely, who worked with Gingrich at West Georgia College (now the University of West Georgia) in Carrollton. "He personally moved up to Virginia, but all the business and all the family connections are here, and he's always thought of himself that way."
In fact, Steely said, Gingrich told the Carrollton newspaper, The Times-Georgian, that he would campaign in Carrollton.
"Everybody over here is all excited about it," Steely said. "Those that love him, love him, and those who don't, don't. And everyone is finding his run to be an interesting thing."
Gingrich already has the backing of Gov. Nathan Deal and former Gov. Sonny Perdue, as well as four members of Georgia's congressional delegation: Reps. Phil Gingrey, Jack Kingston, Tom Price and Austin Scott.
Gingrich becomes the second candidate with Georgia ties in the GOP scrum. Former business executive and radio host Herman Cain is also running.
Cain, who will also speak at Saturday's state Republican convention, welcomes Gingrich to the race, said Cain spokeswoman Ellen Carmichael, who described the two candidates as "friends for several years if not decades."
"The more the merrier," Carmichael said. "[Cain] looks forward to the intellectual firepower Newt brings to the debate, and he has a great deal of admiration for him."
Other potential candidates have support in the state, as well. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the state's 2008 presidential primary, can count on many of the grass-roots activists, especially in the faith community, who backed him before. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who finished third here in 2008, would continue to attract key Georgia business leaders.
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has hired Nick Ayers, a former Perdue campaign aide and former executive director of the Republican Governors Association, to lead his campaign.
Gingrich's announcement comes after a few awkward fits and starts to his bid. In March, national media arrived in Atlanta when Gingrich met privately with Deal. It was expected that Gingrich would announce his campaign from Deal's Capitol office, but instead, he said he was only exploring a bid. Monday, Gingrich told his Twitter and Facebook followers that he would speak to Sean Hannity on Wednesday about "my run" for the White House, but his spokesman said that was not an official announcement.
This was, however, and the reaction was mixed from some Georgians.
"Newt Gingrich will bring intellectual firepower and new policy ideas that so far have been in short supply from the White House incumbent and other potential GOP presidential candidates," political analyst and pundit Phil Kent said.
Keith Wynn of Ocilla in Irwin County -- "population 8,500, two red lights" -- said Gingrich is "very smart."
"I would vote for him, but he brings a little baggage that I can overlook," Wynn said, adding that he believes Gingrich to still be a Georgian, albeit from "the other Georgia, [the] 404 area code."
That baggage Wynn mentioned could be a deal breaker for others, however. Gingrich is on his third marriage after two messy divorces and abandoned his congressional seat and the speaker's gavel after being fined $300,000 by the House for ethics violations. His fellow Republicans were threatening a revolt against the charismatic but controversial Gingrich.
Daniel Walker of Decatur believes Gingrich is "wasting his time."
"His moment has come and gone," Walker said. "I also feel bad for Herman Cain, a true Georgian who has less baggage and would be a more viable candidate if Newt weren't running out of Georgia."
And, proving Steely correct when he said Gingrich engenders strong feelings, Rhonda Cumpsty of Dublin put it simply: "If his wives can't trust him, neither can I. I can't stand him."
Billy George, a Republican from Carrollton, said he's more likely to back Cain.
"If you look into his credentials, you'll see the man has a good business sense and knows how to turn the red numbers back to black," George said of Cain, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO. "He makes very strong points, and I fear that will keep him at the bottom of the polls."
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Republican presidential scorecard
Who’s declared?
Newt Gingrich — former House speaker and congressman from Georgia.
Gary Johnson — former governor of New Mexico.
Fred Karger — retired political consultant, first openly gay person to run for president.
Tom Miller — career flight attendant.
Vern Wuensch — Houston home builder.
Who’s formed an exploratory committee?
Herman Cain —former chief executive of Godfather’s Pizza and former Atlanta radio host.
Ron Paul — congressman from Texas.
Tim Pawlenty — former governor of Minnesota.
Mitt Romney — former governor of Massachusetts.
Rick Santorum — former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.
Who’s expressed interest or given rise to speculation?
Michele Bachmann — Minnesota congresswoman.
John Bolton — former ambassador to the United Nations.
Mitch Daniels — governor of Indiana.
Lindsey Graham — U.S. senator from South Carolina.
Mike Huckabee — former governor of Arkansas.
Jon Huntsman — former Utah governor and former U.S. ambassador to China.
Sarah Palin — former governor of Alaska and former vice presidential candidate.
Donald Trump — New York real estate magnate.
Source: News reports, 2012.presidential-candidates.org
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