WASHINGTON -- Coweta County U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland will endorse Newt Gingrich for president, according to an aide familiar with the endorsement.
Westmoreland will become the fifth member of the Georgia Republican Congressional delegation to endorse Gingrich, joining Reps. Jack Kingston of Savannah, Phil Gingrey of Marietta, Tom Price of Roswell and Austin Scott of Tifton. The rest have not picked a candidate.
The timing of the formal announcement has yet to be determined, the aide told the AJC.
Gingrich represented a suburban Atlanta district in the U.S. House for two decades, rising to the rank of Speaker. His campaign has surged in recent weeks, and several polls show him leading in the key early voting states of Iowa and South Carolina. Nationally, he has emerged as the top rival to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the nomination.
Saturday's departure of McDonough businessman Herman Cain from the race leaves Gingrich as the only remaining presidential hopeful with Georgia roots.
According to a list compiled by The Hill newspaper, Gingrich also has endorsements from U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess, R-Texas; Joe Barton, R-Texas; and Andy Harris, R-Md. Romney has secured 50 congressional endorsements.
Gingrich is in Washington today to speak at the Republican Jewish Coalition presidential forum and for a fund-raiser.
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