Politics & Government
Our Neighbor Newt Gingrich, a Possible Presidential Candidate
Gingrich stops short of forming exploratory committee
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich – one of our esteemed McLean neighbors – is dipping his toe into presidential politics.
He’ll announce today that he’ll begin raising money to test whether a bid for the GOP presidential nomination is feasible, his spokesman told The Associated Press Wednesday night.
Gingrich is the latest McLean resident to explore a run for the presidency. In the past, other neighbors who have headed down that path and then abandoned it have included former Sen. Fred Thompson, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and TV commentator Pat Buchanan.
Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 67-year-old politician is stopping short of setting up an exploratory committee which would have made him a legal candidate, according to the AP. Gingrich and his wife, Callista, oversee a web of commercial and nonprofit ventures and must tie up some loose ends with those businesses before they can take that step.
However, "this is a serious exploratory phase," his spokesman said.
Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Gingrich and his wife bought their home in McLean in May 2000 for $995,000. The house is now assessed at more than $1mil. Located on a quiet unpretentious street, the two-story house has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, three fireplaces and more than 5000 square feet of space. No swimming pool. This is a modest house by McLean standards.
Gingrich can be seen shopping in the downtown Giant. Enjoying Sunday dinner at the McLean Family Restaurant. Strolling through downtown.
On Wednesday, Fox News Channel suspended the contracts of Gingrich and former Sen. Rick Santorum, another on-air contributor, for two months as they explore possible White House runs.
