Gingrich in ’12?

Will Newt Gingrich run in 2012? Well, that’s the implication he floated to the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Thursday he’d seriously consider running for president in 2012.

With the mantle of the Republican Party still unclaimed, Gingrich told reporters in Ashland, Va., before a speech to Randolph-Macon College that he and his family would examine the political environment in early 2011, and “look seriously at whether or not we think it’s necessary to do it.”

“And if we think it’s necessary we’ll probably do it. And if it isn’t necessary we probably won’t do it,” he said, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

While I know a lot of people are overjoyed to hear this news of a potential chance to wave the Gingrich ’12 flag, though I’m not really one of them, lets just calm down a minute. This little announcement means absolutely nothing for ’12. It has zero to do with whether Newt wants to run in 2012.

Just think about it for a second. What year is it? yea, 2009. IF, and its a big if, Gingrich has any desire to run in 2012 why would he be making pseudo-announcements of intent this early? I mean talk about a stale campaign come 2011…

Anybody serious about running would be a fool to make that known right now. If you really want to run for president you start dropping hints at that fact maybe late 2010 NOT early 2009.

So, what do his comments mean if they don’t mean he wants to run for president? Given the present leadership vacuum in the Republican party I’d say this is a pretty clear power play by Newt. I mean what better way to draw attention to yourself than floating a potential presidential bid to a party that (already and rightfully so) desperately wants a new one?

Look to hear more from Gingrich in the coming weeks as he makes his grab for more power in the party.