Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Thursday he is entering the early, early stages of a potential bid for president in 2012.
The Republican, who represented Georgia's 6th District in Washington for 20 years, emerged from a meeting with Gov. Nathan Deal and told reporters he has created a website, newtexplore2012.com. But Gingrich stopped short of committing to running for the White House and would not take questions.
"We will look at this very seriously," Gingrich said. "And we will very methodically lay out the framework of what we will do next."
The move allows Gingrich, under federal election law, to raise and spend money as a candidate on things such as travel and polling. But Gingrich would not have to disclose how much money he's spending and what he's spending it on until he becomes a full-fledged candidate.
Gingrich is the first major Republican figure to get this far. Georgia businessman Herman Cain, a former radio talk show host, has already created an exploratory committee. Other major potential candidates for the nomination include former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was in Atlanta on Wednesday, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Gingrich met with Deal, whom Gingrich supported in the race for governor in 2010, as well as with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, to discuss one of Gingrich's pet projects: organizing states to push back against the federal government on states rights.
Deal introduced Gingrich before a horde of state and national media, and called Gingrich "a long-time friend." The two served together in the U.S. House.
"We talked about issues that are of concern to him," Deal said. "Issues that are confronting us all across the spectrum. One of those is the balance between the federal government and the states."
"More and more we are confronted with mandates coming from Washington," Deal said. "Our discussion of 10th Amendment issues is certainly a timely topic."
While it's not clear when Gingrich will make his intentions final, the race for the Republican nomination for president will heat up in the coming months.
The first debate of the 2012 presidential campaign season is scheduled for May 2 at the Reagan Library in California.
About the Author
