Gingrich: no regrets over quitting race

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Sunday he could have been a contender, but has no regrets about skipping the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Gingrich said he'd had a Web site ready to launch this week and already had received several million dollars in pledges.

"I think we would clearly have been competitive financially within three weeks, and we literally had not even set up the Web site yet," he said. "But what hit me was it would have been an underdog campaign. I mean, clearly, if you were going to come from behind, I think it would have been a real campaign. I think we would have had a chance to win."

Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler said Saturday that Gingrich opted out of the race, a crowded one with nine candidates, after determining he could not legally explore a bid and stay as head of his tax-exempt political organization.

Besides the potential legal difficulties, Gingrich said running would have wasted the effort spent building up American Solutions for Winning the Future, the tax-exempt political arm of his lucrative empire as an author, pundit and consultant.

Just last week, Gingrich said he had set an Oct. 21 deadline to raise $30 million in pledges for a possible run, acknowledging that the task was difficult but not impossible.

He said Sunday that the deciding factor was learning he risked violating the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.

"I thought there was a way that you could continue the momentum of those ideas while I began to prepare a presidential campaign," Gingrich said. "What we learned yesterday morning was, I mean, it's literally a go to jail, criminal activity."

Click here for more GPB coverage about Gingrich and the '08 presidential race.

(AP)

Gingrich launches initiative amid rumors

Georgia Republican and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich kicked-off his new initiative last night in Cobb County. Called "American Solutions for Winning the Future", it plans to focus on problems such as healthcare, immigration and national security in workshops across the nation this weekend.

This however, comes as rumors swirl as to a possible presidential run by Gingrich. Some critics have suggested that his advocacy group is an indirect political campaign. Matt Towery heads the political website 'Insider Advantage'. He's a former Gingrich political aide.

"I think if he gets into the race he's going to be criticized for using this as a stepping stone, and it's something he's going to have to deal with. I don't think it would be fatal to him. I didn't think it was the smartest thing in the world, but yet at the same time it has created a lot of buzz".

Gingrich spoke to GPB last night about the charge put forth by critics.

"Nothing that we have done in American Solutions relates to campaigning. Any poll we give out we give out to both the Democrat and Republican party...all of our programs have been open to both the Democrat and Republican party...we've invited both Democrats and Republicans to participate. We've really tried to make this very open and available to anybody".

Gingrich has mentioned a number of 30-million dollars in pledges needed to fuel a jump into the presidential fray, and summed up his chances of getting into the race.

"I think the odds are probably 20-percent that we'll get pledges of 30-million dollars, and 80-percent that we won't. I'm pretty comfortable with that...I would have told you a month ago I thought it was 5-percent we would get it and 95-percent we wouldn't. So it has actually in my mind moved a fair distance in the last six weeks".

Gingrich said this is not about any ambition on his part, but about a citizen movement for change, and he’d be willing to be their candidate with enough support.

Gingrich: No to '08 presidential run

In a quick turn of events, Georgia Republican and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced he will not make a run for President. Gingrich told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that an analysis of the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law made clear he could not continue as head of his new American Solutions initiative, while at the same time launch an exploratory committee for the presidency.

Before this weekend decision, Gingrich spoke to GPB Thursday evening, on the charge by some critics that his initiative was serving as an indirect political campaign.

"Nothing that we have done in American Solutions relates to campaigning. Any poll we give out we give out to both the Democrat and Republican party...all of our programs have been open to both the Democrat and Republican party...we've invited both Democrats and Republicans to participate. We've really tried to make this very open and available to anybody".

Gingrich had just made high-profile appearances in support of his American Solutions organization, which held workshops across the nation over the weekend.

Gingrich Withdraws 'Racist' Comment

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he shouldn't have called Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor a racist. In a letter to supporters Wednesday, the Georgia Republican said his words had been "perhaps too strong and direct." Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court. Gingrich said last week that she was a reverse "racist" who should withdraw her nomination, based on a 2001 speech in which Sotomayor said the decisions of a "wise Latina" would be better than those of a white male without similar experiences. Gingrich conceded that Sotomayor's rulings have "shown more caution and moderation" than her speeches and writings.

(Associated Press)

Newt Gingrich Predicts Judicial Battle

Newt Gingrich says that a major battle is brewing over judicial power. The former House speaker and Georgian - speaking at the University of Georgia's law school on Tuesday - says he was astonished by a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage in that heartland state. Gingrich calls the decision "outrageously wrong" and says it demonstrated "judicial arrogance." Gingrich is mentioned as a possible Republican presidential contender in 2012.

(Associated Press)

Newt Gingrich to teach UGA course

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich is set to teach a law course in Athens . Gingrich will teach a judicial review class next spring at the University of Georgia School of Law, according to the Athens Banner Herald. Gingrich was elected to Congress in 1978 from suburban Atlanta and represented the 6th Congressional District for 20 years. He was speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999.

(Athens Banner-Herald)

McDermott will fight fine for Gingrich tape

Washington Congressman Jim McDermott says he'll ask the U-S Supreme Court to decide whether he had a right to leak an illegally taped phone call about Georgia native House Speaker Newt Gingrich. McDermott gave reporters the tape of a 1996 phone call in which Ohio Congressman John Boehner and others discussed ethics violations against Newt Gingrich. In May, a federal appeals court ruled against McDermott, but he says it's a free speech-free press issue. McDermott was ordered to pay John Boehner $700,000.

Gingrich weighs in on Presidential bid

Former House Speaker and Georgia native Newt Gingrich gives himself 4-to-1 odds against running for president. Gingrich outlined his decision-making process to the Associated Press … After holding national Internet-based workshops on September 27th and 29th, he will decide whether to form an exploratory committee on September 30th. If he does form a committee, he will decide whether to run by November 6th. That’s about one year from Election Day 2008.

Gingrich would run on $30M

Newt Gingrich says he still might run for president if supporters will pledge $30 million dollars by November. The Georgia native says he would need that much money to compete with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who leads in Republican fundraising. Gingrich would not say when he would decide, but noted that November 13th, when Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy in 1979, is a "propitious" date.

Newt Gingrich stumps for Rick Goddard in Macon

Former Georgia Congressman and House Speaker, Newt Gingrich traveled to Macon to show his support for Republican Congressional candidate, Rick Goddard.
Gingrich told a room filled with Goddard supporters the Democrats are likely to gain seats in the House and Senate during the upcoming election. He says Senator John McCain is in a very deep hole against Senator Barack Obama and that people are unhappy with President George Bush.
Goddard is running in the 8th Congressional District against Congressman Jim Marshall, a Democrat from Macon who is serving his third term in office.

Former Georgia Congressman Flynt dies

Former Georgia Congressman John "Jack" Flynt-Jr has died at the age of 92. He passed away early Sunday at his home in Griffin.

Flynt was a 12-term Congressman and served as chairman of the House ethics committee. He defeated political newcomer Newt Gingrich in 1974 and '76. When he retired, Gingrich took his seat. Flynt was a member of the Democratic establishment when the party dominated Southern politics.

Flynt's background includes service as a calvary officer, prosecutor, and bank founder. In 2001, a 17-mile section of Georgia-16 was named after Flynt.

GOP governors discuss healthcare at Lake Oconee

Lake Oconee in eastern Georgia was the host for Republican governors and their staff over the weekend--the reason was a retreat and discussion on healthcare issues. The GOP hopes to make a better connection with voters over issues such as healthcare costs, health savings accounts, and free-market proposals to boost competition. The meeting of the Republican Governors Association included former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Georgia governor Zell Miller, both serving as speakers. Sonny Perdue is the chairman of the GOP governors group.

Sam Nunn for President?

A Georgian is thinking about putting his hat in the ring for President. Former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn tells an Atlanta television station that he is not ruling out a presidential bid. InsiderAdvantage reports Nunn is being courted for an independent run for President or Vice President. The 68-year-old Democrat served as Georgia’s U.S. Senator for 24 years. Another Georgian, Republican Newt Gingrich, has also said he would consider running for President in 2008.