Newt Gingrich to announce exploratory committee ‘within 10 days’ — in Georgia
Update at 11 a.m. Sunday: I was on a State Bar panel Saturday afternoon with Randy Evans, the Atlanta lawyer in charge of Newt Gingrich’s business interests. He’s quoted below.
Before we parted, Evans told me this: “In 10 days, Newt Gingrich will be in Georgia, announcing his exploratory committee.”
Evans later sent an e-mail. “Within 10 days,” he said.
So that’s Tuesday by March 8. Not necessarily on March 8.
Original post: As a culture, we no longer admire the tease. Gypsy Rose Lee always won applause by keeping her feathers discretely placed, but she is long gone.
The Internet is all about the full frontal.
Which is why you have to hand it to Newt Gingrich and the way he has managed to stoke continued interest in his presumptive Republican run for president with provocative breadcrumbs tossed out to journalists.
During a January visit to Georgia, Gingrich let it be known in private conversations that he’d scouted out office space for a campaign headquarters in Buckhead.
In Florida on Thursday, the former U.S. House speaker from Georgia even spoke of potential running mates. From the Palm Beach Post:
“Florida has two and maybe three potential vice presidential candidates right now, maybe four if you count Jeb Bush,” Gingrich said. He mentioned Sen. Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation and Gov. Rick Scott.
On Friday afternoon, a South Carolina political blog published a transcript of a TV interview in which Gingrich pledged fealty to the first three states in the GOP contest. The former speaker made very careful use of the subjunctive as he dismissed Florida’s ambition to become an early contender:
My commitment would be explicitly to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Then Floridians should figure out what they want to do. We went through this exact same game in 2007 and 2008. It is not a very dignified process I am afraid.
On Friday afternoon, Lori Geary with Channel 2 Action News caught up with two Gingrich allies in Georgia, who were dropping their own hints.
She quoted Matt Towery, the CEO of InsiderAdvantage: “I would say speaker Gingrich is about 90 percent there, and I would expect that the announcement would be one that he is running.”
More intriguing was the tidbit from Randy Evans, the Atlanta attorney who handles Gingrich’s business interests: “I just think we’re in the process of restructuring the businesses to make Newt’s possible candidacy a viability.”
Not all of this foreshadowing is under the former House speaker’s control. Earlier this week, a University of Pennsylvania student confronted Gingrich about his three marriages – launching a thousand Tweets across the Internet. The video can be seen above, courtesy of CBS.
From Geary and Channel 2:
Both Towery and Evans said the former speaker is ready for the tough questions about his personal life. Gingrich has faced scrutiny for his torrid past, including marriage scandals.
“The good thing for Newt Gingrich is that his personal life has been assaulted for over 20 years,” Towery said. Evans agreed, saying if voters are willing to look past his past Gingrich will be successful.
“If the election is about yesterday, then it’ll always be a challenge but if it’s about tomorrow then i think he’s got a leg up,” Evans said.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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294 comments Add your comment
Abe Froman
February 27th, 2011
1:55 am
Because it went so well last time.
KipNoxzema
February 27th, 2011
2:25 am
Let’s get an exploratory committee going. It’s a good idea.
If this Thug president is so righteous and has nothing to hide, it should be nothing to worry about, right?
Watch how the State Run media will ignore this, though.
TnGelding
February 27th, 2011
2:28 am
Who cares? He had his chance in 2004, but didn’t have the political wisdom or courage to challenge ‘43′.
JB
February 27th, 2011
3:29 am
Newt will wind up being a running mate as an idealogical balance. Perhaps to someone like Mitt Romney.
I envision Newt being a VP and compared to Agnew. That is Agnew the VP, not the bribe taking governor.
J.B., PhD, MSA
February 27th, 2011
3:33 am
Independents, Regurgitations, GOPs, Shiites – ANYONE!!!1 – PLEASE!!!!!
Present our most gracious, forgiving, and honest PEOPLE a true OPTION OF some non-Dummycrap candidate for the next presidential candidate. GINGRINCH is unelectable, Pailin is unelectable, Ron Paul is unelectable, Fred Thompson unelectable, and a whole bunch more ARE NOT ELECTABLE!!!!
WAKE THE FECK UP U.S.A!!!!
Get A GRIP!
howard
February 27th, 2011
6:06 am
I will vote for a stump before I vote for Newt for President.
tc
February 27th, 2011
6:18 am
Newt would make a great Prsident. Didn’t we just elect a governor with a potential scandelous past. He seems do being doing well so far. Let’s focus on having a competant President instead of nit picking past baggage. Look at the president we have now with a “clean past” Not getting us anywhere!
tc
February 27th, 2011
6:20 am
I will be the first in my neighborhood to have a Newt sign in my yard!
tc
February 27th, 2011
6:21 am
J B, wouldn’t you have said Obama was “unelectable” five years ago. I think you would have.
Whitneymuse
February 27th, 2011
7:07 am
oh no, another bob dole, Yosemite Sam, it’s my turn candidate?
Travis McGee
February 27th, 2011
7:25 am
Newt Gingrich and Rick Scott for V.P. — Scott being the previous CEO of Columbia/HCA that paid the largest fine ever (over a billion dollars) for Medicaide/Medicare fraud. If that’s an example of Newt’s judgement, then the Republicans are destined to miss the White House again.
Of course, the Republicans will self-destruct in the primaries.
Walt
February 27th, 2011
7:28 am
“Newt doesn’t have a prayer of winning as the Republican nominee. He carries more baggage than Delta.”
ROFLAMO
Spike Malloy
February 27th, 2011
7:29 am
After reading all all the negative comments about Newt, I wondered if all of these folks worked for MSNBC or NBC. They’re all from far left liberals.
Decision time for Newt (Politico) | Stock Market News - Business & Tech News
February 27th, 2011
7:33 am
[...] the comment from Gingrich’s aide and a report on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s website made clear that it’s zero hour for the former House [...]
divisiveman
February 27th, 2011
7:33 am
Newt, please go away…the last thing the country needs now is another divisive republican politician like yourself. Take your money, go to your retreat house, wherever it is, and leave the American people alone. We all deserve much better.
Howard Ino
February 27th, 2011
7:47 am
Newt is the most brilliant and capable candidate from either party.
Unless he has gotten over his Ego and matured with age, he will have no chance.
miuwgb91
February 27th, 2011
7:51 am
Newt do not run you are damaged goods. remember Clinton as a womanizer, you are no better, having an affair with your first wife while she had cancer than divorce. newt you have a problem with commitments and vow. Seems saying ‘I Do’ is a problem for you Newt. a commitment to the US Constitution is liking saying ‘I do’ to your first wife and when the going got tough and you needed companionship instead of turning to your wife you wnet elsewhere for companionship. What Newt when the going gets tough as a president will you turn to another mistress, communism socialism or what. Newt you have spent your powder, fade away and just stay home with your second wife and sit down and shut up.
Perspective
February 27th, 2011
8:04 am
No Newt. He was part of the corruption of the Repubs into RINOs. No
Preacherskid
February 27th, 2011
8:25 am
I find it interesting that those who supported Clinton when he ran for President and was embroiled in the Gennifer Flowers controversy, then the Paula Jones and finally Lewinsky while he was in office and then lied about it and perjured himself can then have the audacity and hypocrisy to condemn Newt for having infidelities in his personal life.
Noone likes infidelity. I hate it as much as anyone else but having had conversations with Newt myself on a couple of occassions there’s one thing that cannot be denied. He’s an extremely intelligent person and I think he has some good ideas. Like all of us he has his faults. However, if he gets out in front of the personal issues and addresses them and then focuses on the issues that this country faces and has some legitimate plans to address those issues I for one will listen and consider his candidacy just like the others. I didn’t give a rats a$$ about Clintons personal life and I don’t care about Newts either.
Preacherskid
P.S. I’m not a Republican so for those of you who are going to come at me with that forget it. I’m not a member of any party and I relate more with Libertarian than anything.
Get it right for once
February 27th, 2011
8:28 am
I am Libertarian by belief, but I am registered as a Republican so that I may vote in certain primaries. I am a conservative in my political beliefs and I find it very frustrating that the Republican Party keeps putting up unelectable people. I like Sarah Palin, but because of what she went through in the previous election, she is just unelectable. Regardless of what the Dems say, on paper she was still more qualified to be President than the “Community organizer/ Jr. Senator from Illinois” was, Period. I like Newt, I think he has a good head on his shoulders and knows what he is talking about on many of the issues that he would have to face as President. I personally don’t give a rat’s a$$ about his infidelity or other personal indiscretions, and all of you “holier than thou bible thumpers” that keep quoting the Bible, all I have to say to you is…. “Those of you who are free from sin cast the first stone” You’re all guilty of things too so just shut the hell up.
I really hope that people can get behind someone like Herman Cain, who is a BUSINESSMAN and not a Politian. So many times there are people that enter the race that you just know, deep inside that they are the best person for the job, but you have that fear of “Well, no one else is going to vote for him/her, so I’ll vote for the one who I think can win the race” even though that person really isn’t the best for the job. Sad thing is, there are so many other people that think the same way, if you all just voted for the best person, you never know, they just might win.
Get it right for once
February 27th, 2011
8:30 am
WOW, Preachers kid…. we’re on the same wavelength, read my post. Very similar.
Htos1
February 27th, 2011
8:33 am
SO 1990’s,and it was a big letdown then.
TC
February 27th, 2011
8:36 am
I vote for conservatives,but this man makes me sick.What a pig.Divorced his dying wife for a younger woman.Then preaches to the rest of us about morals.He has zero chance to be elected.I hate to say this,but I would rather see Obama reelected than have this jerk anywhere near the white house.
preacherskid
February 27th, 2011
9:02 am
@getitright
Yeah pretty similar except I despise Palin.
AmVet
February 27th, 2011
9:03 am
A proven and shameless incompetent, who tried single-handedly to destroyed civil discourse while he was In Washington
Even by Republican “standards”, this petulant little man is a disgrace.
Beware the “Newt”ron bomb! « Mind of Moran
February 27th, 2011
9:05 am
[...] the article linked here: http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/02/26/the-newt-gingrich-fan-dance/ It looks as though the former speaker is serious about a run at the [...]
Savage24
February 27th, 2011
9:08 am
Not to worry, Obama will call him to the White House for a photo-op and Newt will hot foot it there like he did for the photo-ops with Nancy Pelosi. The guy is a publicity hound, not a serious contender.
Mike
February 27th, 2011
9:11 am
RINO…RINO…RINO…
Hec Jervae
February 27th, 2011
9:13 am
I think Newt should run so that if you want a vicious dunce in office, you’ve got one to vote for.
Aaron
February 27th, 2011
9:15 am
Newt Gingrich, No thank you.
Ron Paul 2012, thank you very much.
Stuart
February 27th, 2011
9:25 am
Megalomania + self-loathing = Newt Gingrich. I bet he has a picture of Bill Clinton taped to his mirror, and every morning he talks to it, and swears revenge. Maybe he can talk Sarah Palin to run with him. “Pinky and the Brain in 2012.” Tell me, Newt. Would Sarah be a Jaguar or a Chevrolet?
JWS
February 27th, 2011
9:30 am
If the GOP wants Obama to be president again, this is the way to do it. I and millions of others are not afraid to sit out another elections until we get someone who represents us.
Mike
February 27th, 2011
9:35 am
Stay away Newt…your time has long faded. Images of you supporting Global Warming via a commercial with Nancy Peloci is all we need to know you should not run for the REBULICAN TICKET. MORON!
Luthercat
February 27th, 2011
9:35 am
Interesting that we seem to know so much about Newt, but don’t know a damn thing about B. Hussein Obama. Had we known, we hopefully would not have put him in office. But now, things can be different. Everybody has a past. We’re just still trying to get Obama’s past out into the open.
Jon
February 27th, 2011
9:43 am
Newt is a far better choice than the keynan we got now, atleast we can Varify his past unlike obama who hides being muslim, hides his travel records including to Russia to learn communism, hides his birth cert–both including his from kenya, hides his school records—probably because he used racism to get his grades, hides that he is now showing to be a closet gay.
atleast Newt has a history we can judge!!!!!
JOSEPH
February 27th, 2011
9:43 am
if you all want a true consertive Dr. Ron Paul. please i beg for our childrens future.
Luthercat
February 27th, 2011
9:43 am
@Get It Right Good comments. One time, Martin Luther was known to say that he would rather have a competent Turk lead the country than an incompetent Christian. Makes a lot of sense. I’ve followed Newt for a while. I would love to see him debate B. Hussein Obama on foreign issues. He would clean Obama’s clock. We at least need someone who knows how many states are in the union (Obama said 57-What a joke!).
Jsmith
February 27th, 2011
9:44 am
Newt, do conservatives a favor and STAY HOME.
Victor Heddins
February 27th, 2011
9:49 am
Ah At Last ! ! ! The Presidential Dream Ticket ! ! !
Newt the RINO, Scozzafava the ahole ! ! !
JAG
February 27th, 2011
9:58 am
Maybe this RINO can distract Obama long enough to keep him from destroying more of the Country. That’s the only good I can see coming out of this.
Personally, I would trade 1 Libertarian for 1000 Newt’s. But we haven’t flushed out the Senate yet, so instead of Colonel Allen West we’ve got this RINO monkey.
He’s still playing like it’s 1990. Now the Democrats are the Communists and the Republicans are Socialists- and he thinks he’s better than them. Dance your dance Newt. Distract Obama, the Commi in Chief, and you may at last become useful to America.
Jerry Alexander
February 27th, 2011
9:59 am
How soon we forget…does anyone remember how easy it was to become the Mayor of Chicago,or!! President for that matter?
mantei
February 27th, 2011
10:00 am
There is only one man from GA worth supporting for President. HERMAN CAIN. Newt needs to go away.
Yukkione
February 27th, 2011
10:01 am
He waited just long enough for people to forget how disastrous his policies were when he was Speaker. And seriously, who could vote for a person who cheated in their spouse while they’re were in the hospital undergoing cancer treatment?
The Page by Mark Halperin | Gingrich on the Clock
February 27th, 2011
10:01 am
[...] to announce presidential exploratory committee March 8, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
recruiterdeb
February 27th, 2011
10:01 am
Our culture now feeds upon the announcement of the announcement that someone will announce their exploratory intentions, which will be followed by an announcement of running for office. It’s all about what someone says, not what they do. And I do not like what Newt Gingrich do. And I’m a conservative.
Jerry Alexander
February 27th, 2011
10:02 am
Newt will fit in real nicely with the types we have running our country at the present time.
When I hear Newts name for some reason Bill Clinton come to mind…Nothing from Nothing leaves Nothing.
Ray
February 27th, 2011
10:04 am
I am a conservative more than a Republican, even though registered Republican and I cannot and will not support Newt. Yes he is a bright man and a conservative (I think) but he had his chance and he blew it. Go away Newt, just out damn spot, out I say.
Matt
February 27th, 2011
10:06 am
Obama already won his second term if Gingrich is the best the Republicans can come up with. I do not believe the Conservative platform needs to be revamped but rather followed. These old guard Republicans need to retire to the history books. They had their chance and failed.
Luthercat
February 27th, 2011
10:09 am
@Matt At least Newt knows history.
Sea Worthy
February 27th, 2011
10:09 am
Newt you had your chance years ago – and blew it. Be good to America and support Mitt Romney.