Big Deal In Georgia. Governor Endorses Gingrich for President

The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported that Newt Gingrich has essentially made his decision to run for the Republican presidential nomination and is already eyeing Atlanta office space to stake out as his campaign headquarters.

Now the AJC writes that in answering a reporters question about Gingrich, Georgias new governor, Nathan Deal, declared that he will support Newt Gingrich for president if he runs.

According to Political Insider reporter Jim Galloway, the exchange went like this:

Reports from Republicans weve talked to say Gingrich is much further along in his decision-making process than he lets on. In any case, Governor, will you support Gingrich if he runs for president in 12?

Deals response was; I will,.

Prior to that answer, Governor Deal said of Gingrich;

Hes, of course, a long-time friend and a supporter of my efforts to become governor of this state. Its no secret he is taking exploratory actions to determine whether or not hes going to pursue the presidency of the United States and we talked briefly about that. I dont think hes made that decision. He indicated hes still in the deciding process.

Former Speaker of the House represented Georgia in his days in Congress and has strong roots their. He has recently been meeting many of the states most powerful Republicans, including Governor Deal. In 2010, Gingrich pulled out all the stops to help Deal win his race for Governor. Now it looks like pay back time is approaching.

A similar story is playing out in the Northeast where New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently met for dinner with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in Drumthwacket, New Jerseys governor mansion. In 2009 Romney endorsed Christie in his primary for the Garden States Republican gubernatorial nomination. On top of the favor owed to Romney, the two share more than a few things in common. One thing they share is their former state campaign chairman. That was a position which State Senator Joe Kyrillos held for Romneys presidential campaign in 2008 and for Christies gubernatorial race in 2009.

Earlier in the day, a “Political Playbook” forum sponsored by Politico and aired on C-Span, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made an endorsement of his own kind when he praised South Dakota Senator John Thune and calimed that he has urged him to run for President.