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WASHINGTON (AP) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will not run for president in 2008 after determining he could not legally explore a bid and remain as head of his tax-exempt political organization, a spokesman said Saturday.

"Newt is not running," spokesman Rick Tyler said. "It is legally impermissible for him to continue on as chairman of American Solutions (for Winning the Future) and to explore a campaign for president."

Gingrich decided "to continue on raising the challenges America faces and finding solutions to those challenges" as the group's chairman, Tyler said, "rather than pursuing the presidency."
Full article here.

Fox News: Gingrich Sets Own Fundraising Deadline

Gingrich said he will give his Atlanta-based political adviser, Randy Evans, until Oct. 21 to raise pledges of $30 million. He says he will not run if he fails to generate enough support.

Evans will launch a Web site and hold a news conference Monday in Atlanta.

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Stay tuned until Monday...

When I look out at the field of prospective GOP candidates, I’m left somewhat speechless. In terms of sheer personal accomplishment, we Republicans probably have the most distinguished field of candidates than ever before in history. Simply looking at the front runners, we see a military hero who has defined valor and is a long time public servant, a businessman who has proven to be a competent executive with movie-star looks, an actual movie start/former senator, and a charismatic mayor who single-handedly overhauled New York City. Certainly, again looking at accomplishment alone, these guys are head and shoulders above what we put forth in 2000, 1996, and 1988.

The problem for all of them however, is that consultant-approved sound bytes relying on those accomplished backgrounds, million-dollar (or should I say, multi-million dollar) smiles, and giving talking point-style solution’s to America’s most complex issues does not constitute a substantive presidential campaign. Just as ten people, standing all along side each other, getting asked the most
nonsensical questions by self-important media types and offering fundamentally the same answer is not a “debate” so much as it is a free, and completely unimportant campaign ad for the candidates in them.

Looking out towards the 2008 election, its clear that our Party, and the Conservative Movement, are facing perhaps the largest uphill climb in our history. Our Party has done next to nothing as of yet to counter the image of being untrustworthy, and unaccountable towards the average American, and unable to make good on the promises and policies we have proposed. For all of the positive news about Iraq and General Patreus (and make no mistake, it is great news) recently, we cannot forget that the approval rating of both the President and Congress are at embarrassing lows. As responsible stewards of America’s trust we should have the integrity to answer why this is so. Our candidate in 2008 must be prepared to shoulder those concerns, respond to them in a way that’s truly inspiring to our national spirit, and do so through a process of fundamental change to our political dialogue, and our day to day “gotcha” politics. He has to stand out from the typical political dithering, and force those in the presidential political fray to answer the problems we as a party and nation face with a similar passion and substance. The only individual interested, and qualified enough, to make that sort of change is former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

While his presidential aspirations are still unclear, if Newt Gingrich runs, his platform will be the most ambitious, comprehensive, and inspiring since Reagan in 1980 and FDR in 1932. The man has spent his post-Speakership years constructing a blueprint for the ideal conservative America we've been struggling to achieve for years. If you read "Winning the Future" you'll find the single most comprehensive platform of a conservative agenda seen since Reagan's 1980 campaign. If you “YouTube” his name and listen to his speeches on limited government, privatization, and national security it becomes blatantly obvious that he is the only contender who can justify his candidacy with an agenda that advances our philosophy further than perhaps anything ever proposed in American history. No single candidate in the race currently is the bastion of ideas Newt Gingrich has become over the past few years. And no other candidate has yet to propose such comprehensive solutions to problems in ways that are not only as workable as his are, but are also so understandable to the average American voter. As others have said, while the current group of GOP candidates are running for president, Newt is running to change the country.

The speeches and articles Newt has produced over the past year demonstrate that he already knows exactly what he’ll do as president. Unlike the other candidates who seem like they just want to assume the office and govern as best they can according to the hand their dealt, Newt’s deep involvement in policymaking over the past few years, along with his vast understanding of those policies, gives every indication he will define what the Federalists called “Energy in the Executive.”

Those who shun away from the idea of a Gingrich candidacy usually state how its “too late” for another candidate to get in the running. Perhaps for lesser known individuals, but for Gingrich, what’s the rush? While other candidates are in a constant state of defending their claims of conservatism, Newt does not have to justify his claim to be the real deal. His reputation as a competent leader who can accomplish large, Conservative-based change needs no introduction. Its also clear that, given the national polls, no single candidate has yet to achieve a plurality of Republican voters. This stands in contrast to the Democratic primary, where the surge to rally around Senator Clinton is already well underway. In our primary, disenchantment still runs rampant at the grassroots, and Newt’s massive appeal towards the Conservative base provides all the opening he would need to be an immediate front runner. My appeal for him, however, is found not just in his ideas, but in what he represents.

In Newt Gingrich lies a real Conservative disenchanted by the fact that for six years of presidential and congressional control, opportunity after opportunity was squandered for the sake of shortsighted politics. Aside from being right on the issues of tax cuts, the War on Terror, and judicial appointments (all issues on which Newt has praised President Bush), the Congress from 2001-2007 roughly departed from the Gingrich era of disciplined, Conservative thought. This is a man with first hand experience in steering a Republican Congress in favor of our most prevalent beliefs, and the vacancy of such principled leadership has inspired his criticism. He's the only Conservative in the field (aside from the punditry) reminding our base of what it means to have a limited and efficient government, a balanced budget, an ownership society, a protected border and a 21st century healthcare market.

Now more than ever we need substantive and candid discussions regarding public policy and Newt is, frankly, the only person doing it without stooping to the indignity of tabloid politics. I admire the work he is doing with his organization "American Solutions," something that, unlike most of the presidential candidates in either party, is actually aimed at making a difference in this country at all levels of government, rather than just be a campaign meant to crusade around for the candidates pet issue or cause.

At the end of the day, a Gingrich candidacy means there is someone in the race who will actually change the dialogue of the debate, and force the candidates to answer questions at his level of intellect and insight. That only benefits our party and gives credibility to our candidates in the end. I think that's something all who want Conservatism and our Party to remain relevant in this century can root for.

WALLACE: You've been flirting with the idea of running for president for months. And this week you said you want to see if you can get pledges of $30 million before deciding. How is that going to work?

GINGRICH: Well, I've said all along for the last year, I'm going to focus — I personally am focusing totally on doing American Solutions, having the workshops on Thursday and Saturday, reaching out across the whole country on a totally bipartisan basis.

Next Monday, Randy Evans, who's been my friend and adviser for many, many years, will hold a press briefing. Randy will spend the next three weeks checking with people around the country.

If he reports back that, in fact, we think the resources are there for a real race — remember, Governor Romney has been very successful legitimately as a businessman. He can write a $100 million check.

I mean, there's no point in getting into a fight with a guy who can drown you unless you at least have enough resources for a vote.

And so if we have enough resources, then close to that we'll face a very big decision in late October. If there aren't enough resources, I'm not for doing unrealistic things.

WALLACE: But why even go through it unless, if you get the money, you'd run?

GINGRICH: I think the odds are very high, if we ended up with that level of pledges, we'd — I don't see as a citizen how you could turn that down.

WALLACE: So you'd run.

GINGRICH: I think you'd be compelled to.

Washington Times: Gingrich hints of White House bid

"I will decide based on whether I have about $30 million in committed campaign contributions and whether I think it is possible to run a campaign based on ideas rather than 30-second sound bites," the former House speaker told The Washington Times yesterday.

[...]

Mr. Gingrich figures he would need at least $30 million to conduct competitive television-ad campaigns in the first five primary and caucus states — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and perhaps Florida or Michigan. The primary calendar is still up in the air.

Commentary by Newt Gingrich

[Our healthcare system] is dysfunctional because it is stunningly inefficient with no market system to allow people to know prices and quality and make reasonable choices in a way which drives efficiencies.

That feeling is mutual, too, as shown by how Reagan endorsed Gingrich's first book back in 1984.

California initiative proposed to divvy up electoral votes

Republican activists in California are proposing a ballot initiative that would end the winner-take-all apportionment of the state's huge cache of Electoral College votes, a change that could dramatically affect the 2008 presidential elections.

California is, after all, the mother lode of American presidential politics, with 55 electoral votes, about one-fifth the number needed to win the presidency.

And if the Republicans are successful with their "Presidential Election Reform Act" ballot initiative, as it has been christened by its originators, they could peel off enough electoral votes in California to eliminate the advantage Democrats have long had in the Golden State.

Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, never shy of provocative rhetoric, had some sharp words for President Bush and Congress on Tuesday, saying he is "sickened" they are on vacation "while young Americans are being massacred by people who should not be here."

Gingrich said two suspects in the recent murders of three youths in Newark, N.J., turned out to be illegal immigrants with criminal records and that Bush should call Congress into special session to deal with the situation "if he is serious about winning the war here at home." Gingrich said he favors a national identification system to ferret out illegal immigrants who have committed felonies.

These remarks, echoing his talk to a Republican audience in Ames, Iowa, last weekend about an immigration issue that resonates strongly with the GOP base, again raised questions about a prospective Gingrich presidential candidacy. He promised an answer soon.

What Newt Gingrich Offers

The other candidates all say, "Elect me president and because of my qualifications, I will do a good job for you." By contrast, Newt engages the minds of his listeners by saying, "We should change this and this and this, which, if done, might actually make the government effective."

Newt Gingrich was getting plenty of attention at the Ames straw poll — including from the foreign press — even though he's not yet a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

Gingrich sparred with a German journalist who challenged whether Gingrich and his policy group, American Solutions, were feeding the notion in this country that the United States has the best of everything.

“I’m sorry you believe this kind of nonsense. That’s just baloney,” said Gingrich.

The former U.S. House speaker declared that he is open to the best ideas from around the world for solving problems, but America is filling a unique leadership role.

Gingrich plans to wait until fall before announcing whether he will enter the presidential race.

He was elevating his profile at the straw poll by sponsoring workshops on areas like the environment and taxation and by signing books and posing for photos at the
American Solutions tent.

Newt Gingrich's Time to Jump Into the Presidential Race Could Come This Fall

All along he has said that his game plan was to wait until the fall of 2007 and then jump into the presidential race. Now, it seems, his game plan may have made sense after all.

Newt had to wait for the other Great Right Hopes to rise and stall, if not actually fall, for him to get into the contest. He would have had trouble handling the barbs of health rivals. But with all his opponents for the designation to oppose Giuliani battered and bleeding -- dead and almost comatose -- he has little to fear from his right flank if he gets into the race.

Follow this link to see Newt do what Newt does best: explain the world.

Speaking at a National Press Club luncheon, Gingrich said he will decide whether to run in late September or early October.

Full Story here.

Gingrich is due to issue the call during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He's scheduled to start talking at 12:30 p.m. ET.

A copy of the pledge that he and Kalb have drawn up for the candidates is here.

"We believe the 'nine nineties in nine' will give voters a chance to see the candidates in an unfiltered dialogue -- one that is informative, constructive and intelligent without the opportunities degenerating into political point scoring and sloganeering," Gingrich and Kalb write in a letter they're sending to the candidates.

"We believe it will not only be better for the political dialogue that has become so divisive; it will also be better for the future of the country, because it will foster the creation of needed solutions to meet today’s current challenges."

Gingrich, by the way, still hasn't ruled out the possibility that he might join the Republican presidential field. His American Solutions website has much more about his other ideas.