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
Steve
February 27th, 2011
10:10 am
Newt – don’t waste your time and ours. You are NOT the person we need as President. You are history – we need someone of the future.
Richard
February 27th, 2011
10:11 am
Only Newt thinks that he has a chance to be President.
What a malignant narcisist!
Knowing that Gingrich has no chance to beat Obama in a general election, Obama’s press hacks will no doubt support him during the Repube primaries, just like they did the worthless McCain.
Redware
February 27th, 2011
10:17 am
Only an egotist like Gingrich would have the absolute hubris to believe that the American people would forgive,much less forget the inexcusable way he has treated his former wives.As for those who will quote chapter and verse to excoriate those of us who link moral character with political performance you are evidently far better Christians,but hardly as patriotic.We would not foist such a morally bankrupt man upon the nation.Forgive the man if you will,but don’t for a second believe that he,any more than a Bill Clinton,should ever lead this country.
nostromo
February 27th, 2011
10:22 am
I can save Newt a lot of time and money. Hey, don’t run. Your time has passed. You will come off as just another old fool who didn’t know when he should quit. That said, you were useful in you moment, now don’t ruin everything because of your pride.
Dan
February 27th, 2011
10:24 am
Save your money, Newt. Your train has left the station. If we learned nothing else from Bill Clinton we learned that character matters. Yours was not all that in ‘97. And unless I’m mistaken I don’t believe the wife you have now is the wife you had then. (I won’t belabor the reasons why.) You can probably continue to make a nice living as a consultant, lecturer and history teacher. But I, for one, want and expect a little more from my leaders.
Quilter77
February 27th, 2011
10:35 am
I’ve heard Newt speak. He is an excellent speaker and very motivational. I’ve heard him admit is past failures and take responsibility for them. I do believe his is sincere in his faith and in walking the straight and narrow. Having said that, there is no way he should even consider running for President. Though he may be forgiven in the eyes of the Lord, that doesn’t make him forgiven in the eyes of the people, which has been made very clear by the posts on this message board. He does have way to much baggage. We all have to own up to our mistakes and suffer the consequences of bad choices. While I respect the man for coming clean about his past, I could never support him as President. He needs to continue with what he is doing and leave politics.
tomgnh
February 27th, 2011
10:37 am
May I suggest the sort of attack he will suffer? The scene is a hospital room. The actor’s voice says “Honey, I’m glad the operation is over, and you’re almost out of the anesthesia, so I want to tell you now that I am leaving you for a younger woman.”
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
10:44 am
Newt and Rush…
Serial marriage, entrepreneurs..!
Four adventures and three catastrophic failures for each of them…
Fatty, fatty, two by fours… both can’t, get thru their own, kitchen doors…
Money, money, money… is no guarantee; she won’t laugh at yer “limp willy”…gents!
Will either one of these sorry, arse, losers, “show your money” to lady, number five…
Actually I’d bet they would or will…
Any takers…?
Canary
February 27th, 2011
10:47 am
Face it you libs. Newt has a chance. The grownups are in charge now and the people put them there. Divorce…weak at most. At least Newt is an American with a birth certificate.
Edd
February 27th, 2011
10:48 am
Meet the new boss…same as the old boss!
—-The Who
Richard
February 27th, 2011
10:59 am
A man who can’t keep his word has no honor and is therefore not fit to be President.
A man who can’t uphold the oath he swore when he took his marital vows (twice broken) can not be trusted to uphold the oath of office of President of the United States.
Would any Gingrich supporter deny that a President must be trustworthy?
John
February 27th, 2011
11:03 am
Newt Gingrich sucked the first time around. This guy has been trying to lay claim to the Tea Party movement since the day it started.
This fat, old, has-been that was forced to retire when caught hypocritically cheating on his wife should stay retired and keep his mouth shut.
Please please please stop interviewing him or paying any attention to him. We don’t need his cultural warfare BS acting as a smokescreen for more Big Government.
KeepUp
February 27th, 2011
11:04 am
WE THE PEOPLE are looking for true leadership, not some recycled has been. Save your money Newt, we are not interested in you.
Randolph Phillips
February 27th, 2011
11:06 am
A lot of Republicans think Obama is a one term President, and the failed candidates from the past would like to be that sure thinkg Republican successor to “The One”. ONe of them is Newt Gingrich, kicked out as Speaker of the House by his fellow republicans a decade ago.
Obama won’t be eady to beat, no matter who the Republican nominee is. Newt may well make Obama’s success easier if he the Republican “winner”. And in many respects, Gingrich would be “Obama light”.
Like Obama, Gingrich favors amnesty for illegals, open borders for new immigrants, and he has a penchant for Corporate america vs. the constitution and the american people. Like John Mccain, Newt loves the US Chamber of Commer, Free Trade, and an America Rules the World foreign policy rooted in 1950 and a military establishment to match the talk. He’s a neo-rockefeller Republican. He agrees with Barack Obama and John McCain on all the major issues.
Like Obama and McCain–and the ghost of Nelson Rockefeller–Newt Gingrich is exactly the guy we don’t need for President.
Pete
February 27th, 2011
11:17 am
You can put down Newt all you want, but he’s 1,000 times the man that phony, good-for-nothing, impostor in the White house is….
olde pablo
February 27th, 2011
11:20 am
Newt, Do not bother to explore–you should stay where you are politically, helping conservatives as you have in the past. YOUR TIME HAS PASSED. You had the opportunity and relenquished it through your own doing and mistakes. PLEASE do not make things worse by trying to re-write history. A fresh new face and message is needed, leave it alone…
Steve Bennett
February 27th, 2011
11:21 am
Do conservatives have to kill-off the republican party with a 3rd party in order to get a president that is focused on the middle class? Newt is an indicator that the republican party continues to learn nothing. newt is pro-war. neoconservative, wall-street, patriot act, and slimey as hell – nothing of what conservatives are looking for. We really need to stop voting for republicans until we get a real conservative party.
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
11:31 am
Considering that shaky, waddle, under Newt’s second, chinny, chin, chin…
…and the size of his humongous, “love handles”… no honey has ever used…
I hope we can all agree, he shouldn’t be considering, “Sarahcuda”, as his VP…!
Shawn
February 27th, 2011
11:34 am
What a bunch of LIBS on this site. What we need now is a true conservative that knows what needs to be done and how to get things done in Washington. With Newt’s experience he will get my vote. The LIBS are bashing him because they are trembling in their fairy shoes and they know he will be effective and kick Obama Bin Ladin’s ass.
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
11:47 am
Shawn…
You’re the “one”, hon…
I just luv it; when you get all, raunchy like that…!
gia jones
February 27th, 2011
11:51 am
I have a better chance than Newt. In other words, he has ZERO
chances and I wish he would stop muddying the field. Doesn’t
he remember his inglorious demise from the House?
Karl
February 27th, 2011
11:56 am
Newt, please don’t run for anything. You blew it a long time ago. You can’t make up your mind whether to run or not run. The only reason you are thinking about running now is that you believe you have a chance of winning. Let me assure you, you don’t. While I like you, your past the prime and what America needs is some new blood, not people who have been in Washington as long as you. Write another book or something but please don’t even think about running for office.
Karl
February 27th, 2011
12:03 pm
To Shawn: I am a Conservative but Newt just doesn’t have what America needs at this point in time. He talks a lot but I really don’t see him doing anything. We need a Conservative who can get this country back on track fiscally and create jobs. As long as the Unions (Obama’s boys) run this country we will not be able to compete in the World Market.
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
12:03 pm
Hey gia jones…
Lets be fair here…
Can’t yah just see, Newt cautiously dipping his big toe, into the tub…?
Oh, Ooo, perhaps just a little warmer…
Large, fluffy, towel, wrapped demurely, around his large corpulent body…
It gives me the “vapors”…!
Kare
February 27th, 2011
12:08 pm
Gingrich should forget it!!! We will not elect him…..he made many promises and once we stopped watching him he turned around and became the same lackluster representative that all career politicians become. He is a RHINO!!! Constitutional conservatives can do better!!!
IrisE
February 27th, 2011
12:09 pm
Would this CREEP go away….Please. NO NEWT – NO WAY. He seems to feel that we have forgotten his repeat performance as an adulterer. He had his chance when he was Speaker of the House and BLEW IT. And the plastic surgery and return to Christianity doesn’t change the fact that he’s a puffed up bag of wind – who spends most of his time criticizing other Conservatives who ARE walking the walk.
Man up Newt and go away and let other people run who are qualified and who have less baggage. And what’s with you and Sean Hannity? Seems like you have a crush on each other you spend so much time on his show. Weird.
stevewr
February 27th, 2011
12:11 pm
Yay, just what we need! A morally bankrupt hypocrite to take us through the most challenging stretch of government and corporate reform in a long time. I’m sure he’ll do great.
Susy
February 27th, 2011
12:11 pm
A waste of money if his ego decides he wants to run. What a RINO loser. It would be like voting for McCain.
Karl
February 27th, 2011
12:13 pm
TO Richard Above: Kind of like every President we have had except for a very few. Since most of us who vote lie to some degree, why are you casting stones. Newt has to answer to a Higer Power just like all of us. What will the Higher Power have to say about you or about me? It’s not Newts breaking his marriage vows that’s a problem, it’s that the man talks a lot but there is no action on his part to what he say’s. Frankly, I don’t care if the President breaks his marriage vows, it’s not my business. Heck, he might be married to someone like our Sec. of State or to the wicked witch from California ————– that’s cause enough for having an affair. Just be glad that you and I are married (if you are married) to wonderful women that we enjoy spending a lifetime with.
R. S. DeMernly
February 27th, 2011
12:16 pm
Enter your comments here
nugy
February 27th, 2011
12:16 pm
same old song and dance.he is the same as obama
lewnaticink
February 27th, 2011
12:18 pm
a newt is a reptile sort of like the one that slithered out of washington some many years ago after destroying what power we had had, like a spineless jellyfish, sorry but the republican party is still looking for people that have a backbone newt, save your money , you will need it after you jerks in washington finish raping the country of all that has made it great, do us all a favor , go back to georgia and kiss jimma cartyers butt…WE DONT NEED YOU!!!!!!
R. S. DeMernly
February 27th, 2011
12:18 pm
What a completely disgusting piece of crap he is. Newt, you and George Bush and John McCain are posterboys for what is wrong with the Republican party. Just go away, you tired old fool. We are sick of you and your kind.
Susan
February 27th, 2011
12:19 pm
I will NEVER vote for Gingrich; he changes religion about as often as he changes wives, and that’s saying a lot. I will NEVER vote for anyone who starts every sentence with “Callista and I . . . ” Give it up, Newt. You sealed your political fate sitting on the park bench with Pelosi spouting off about globull warming. You are so 1990’s. GO NEWT! AND TAKE CALLISTA WITH YOU!
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
12:20 pm
IrisE…
Don’t yah just luv that “Jooysee boye”, Sean…!
I’m thinkin’ Sean, has a “tighter padunk” than “Snooky” has…
Huh…?
I_Am_the_Clay
February 27th, 2011
12:32 pm
You who quote bible verses seem to be leaving out the ones on forgiveness. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!
I_Am_the_Clay
February 27th, 2011
12:33 pm
I’d rather have Newt than the crap of Obamaland, Pelosi and Reid any day of the week! Obamaland and company have drug our country into the ground! They are disgusting pigs!!!
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
12:45 pm
I_Am_the_Clay…
Hon…
Yer takin… this discourse, entirely too seriously…
We’re just havin’ fun here…
Lighten’ up…!
ed
February 27th, 2011
12:46 pm
Newt better get a clue and start talking tough. He’s been perceived as a globalist wuss for a long time. Independents reject him outright for his globalism-at-the-expense-of-our-nation. His only hope is to present himself as a complete 180 degrees from the Traitor Obama…and do it with BALLS.
James
February 27th, 2011
12:51 pm
barf. Another phony conservative who’ll preach freedom and fiscal responsibility but will do the exact opposite. Newt is a war monger and has no business in government.
Slime of an Newt
February 27th, 2011
12:52 pm
First of all I do not trust NEWT GINGRICH, since he hopped in HILLARY CLINTON’S bed on the ”GLOBAL WARMING HOAX” NEWT may be another RHINO, he’s unqualified though hes raised a huge war chest, he hasn’t spent much time in GA since he left congress, he’s been based in the DC power outlet, since he left, to bad the left-wing agenda is destroy SARAH PALIN. As for RON PAUL another fruit of the loom. Give GINGRICH credit OBAMA needs impeaching, and BIDEN to incompetent to replace him.
Susan Grant
February 27th, 2011
12:54 pm
Newt needs to save his time and money and RETIRE in quiet comfort. The only reason he is running now is because of the latest wife. IT is her ambition, not Newt’s. Newt has his time in the sun and squandered it, what makes you think this time around will be any different??????? There are soooo many other qualified candidates that can and will run, that Newt will be left sitting on the curb crying over his spilled milk. All one has to do is check the national polls and you will quickly see that Newt isn’t even an afterthought on the radar.
jtsgrandmom
February 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Card carrying CFR members, Newt and Clinton sold this country out, sold it to the highest bidder and he wants to be elected? I want him indicted, for treason, to the full extent of the law. Read up on his first contract w/America where all but a few of the GOP signed on. And take note that what Newt et al with Clinton on board, delivered the exact opposite as promised. They led the way to NWO and what we see now, our nation on the precipice of subjugation to NWO.
Richard
February 27th, 2011
1:07 pm
To Karl who says that we all lie and that marital infidelity is A.O.K. in his book.
You have completely missed my point.
I am talking about him keeping his promises. I am talking about trust. I am talking about honor. I am talking about integrity. Gingrich scores zero in all these categories.
I am not talking specifically about him breaking ‘marriage’ vows. That and forgiveness for it is between him and his ex’s and God. That is neither my purview nor my interest.
However, I am certainly permitted to use his philandering as an example of his low character. There are many, many more.
Whether you like it or not, the way a man behaves in his personal affairs is a preview to how he behaves in his public affairs.
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
1:09 pm
Gimme ah break, eddy…
Newt is the “first on on the bus”, with respect to the “new world order”…
You ain’t figured that out yet…?
Mark
February 27th, 2011
1:11 pm
Fantastic ! funny how you libs will hold moral issues against him, but you still love Clinton ( getting hd in the oval office)… you people are so phony…. at least he understands the Constitution. Unlike this moron in the White House now…. actually Obama does understand the Constitution, he just hates it, and ignores it…. what a scum bag.
Gramps
February 27th, 2011
1:15 pm
Richard…
I, “like the cut of yer jib”…
In my mind, you just might be a “promise keeper”…?
nightwriter999
February 27th, 2011
1:19 pm
I really wish he wouldn’t… run, that is. He is just another RINO retread like John McCain and I want to see someone different. I want to see someone who actually does what he says he is going to do, rather than spin us to death with platitudes and lies! I want to see someone that has never been in DC and is coming there for a war on government, not one that will grow it even more! I want to see someone who ISN’T a lobbist and one that his own self-interest is not more important that the country’s!!!
sarahb
February 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
What’s the point of impeaching anyone. They stay in office and do the same old things? Remember Bill Clinton. (Slick Willie) He never left office until his term was over. Dannyx, please tell me where in the Bible you got the information the Jesus hates Divorce? Hello Jim Pierce. I believe you and I are the only Rpublicans on this board.For you peple who want to take small portions from the Bible and make a case out of it, how about Matt.5-28 says if you look at woman to lust after her you have committed adultry already. So according to the Bible ,how many ofwho are using the Bible to Condemn Newt, are just as guilty? Huh? I would vote for Newt and Allen West in a heartbeat!!!! OR perhaps Newt and Rick Scott. Not quite sure about Scott but I will know in th near future.
stan
February 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
I once was a newt suppporter, until he caved on big government. No difference between Newt and McCain…. I would vote for OBama as at least you know you are going to get screwed over upfront….