Newt Says No

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/6084.html
Gingrich decides against White House run
By: Mike Allen
Sep 29, 2007 12:53 PM EST


Former House Speaker's spokesman describes decision as "the necessary choice."


Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) decided Saturday morning not to run for president just as his staff was preparing to launch a website to seek $30 million in pledges, his spokesman told Politico.

Rick Tyler, the spokesman, said Gingrich made the decision this morning and will continue as head of his nonprofit group, American Solutions for Winning the Future, which is holding a workshop in Cobb County, Ga., on Saturday.

“He had to make a choice between being a citizenmactivist raising the challenges America faces and finding solution to America’s problems, or exploring a potential candidacy,” Tyler said.

“It’s legally impermissible to do both. It was the necessary choice. It was the only choice.”

Tyler said the decision would be announced Saturday afternoon.

On Friday, Gingrich aides announced a Monday press briefing about his plan to collect pledges toward a drive for the Republican nomination.
Gingrich said he would need at least $30 million in pledges and that it would be very hard to say “no” if he crossed that threshold.
But his nonprofit group has raised money much more slowly than that, and key Republican leaders said they doubted Gingrich could reach that goal.