Newt Gingrich said Monday that he remains confident in his chances for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination and said he and fellow contender Herman Cain are the two candidates with momentum.
Gingrich, a former Georgia congressman and U.S. House speaker, met with reporters at his Buckhead headquarters to tout his "21st Century Contract With America," a modern follow-up to the 1994 plan that helped catapult him and the GOP to power in Washington.
The plan, released last week in Iowa, would lower corporate income taxes and offer individuals the option of paying a flat income tax. It also calls for repealing much of President Barack Obama's health care plan and promises immigration reform and an increase in states' autonomy.
Gingrich, who has lagged several other candidates in early polling, said his new plan is similar in tone and style to the 1994 version.
"There are a couple similarities and a number of differences," Gingrich said. "I think we’re in much more trouble [as a country]. I think it takes much deeper change for us to be able to succeed."
But Gingrich won't have the opportunity to unveil the full details of his plan next fall if he isn't the Republican nominee. Gingrich has seen a bump in polling in the past week -- he broke double digits in polls by Fox News and CNN in the past 10 days -- but remains in fourth place.
While much of the attention of the media and pundits have focused on front-runners Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Gingrich said he's convinced Republican voters aren't ready to choose either.
"Republican activists all over the country have decided they’re not going to vote for anybody is in the top two [in the polls]," Gingrich said, adding that he has advice for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is contemplating joining the race.
"Don't assume being anointed by The New York Times is helpful," Gingrich said. "Whoever the media says s is the front runner is in trouble."
The one candidate in the race to impress in the past few weeks, he said, is Atlanta business executive talk radio host Herman Cain.
"The most interesting story the last two weeks is Herman Cain and the American people," Gingrich said.
Cain, former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, won a closely-watched Florida straw poll and has jumped more than 10 percentage points in several polls.
Gingrich said that his and Cain's poll numbers combined are higher than both Romney and Perry.
"And I feel pretty good about that," Gingrich said. "I’m having a lot of fun. I’m pretty sure Herman is having fun. I’m not sure the other guys are having fun."
Asked whether the race will end up a slog between Perry and Romney, like the 1974 championship fight between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, Gingrich smiled.
"I don’t know that these guys are in the Ali-Foreman league, frankly," Gingrich said. "I knew Ali and Foreman. I’m not sure these guys are Ali-Foreman."
Kennesaw University political scientist Kerwin Swint, a former GOP consultant, said a NASCAR analogy may be apt for explaining Gingirch's praise for Cain In auto racing, two cars can run faster.
Gingrich "sees them as having similar views and common styles," Swint said.
Gingrich might want to "capitalize" on Cain's recent success, Swint said.
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