Looks Like Newt Gingrich is in 2012 GOP Field as Bobby Jindal Takes a Pass

While Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said on Tuesday that he had no intention of running for the Republican presidential nomination, Tom Beaumont of the Des Moines Register reported that there appears to be a near-certain candidate -- former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Beaumont notes that Gingrich is making financial arrangements to runfor the presidency and could make an announcement as early as February. While Gingrich has been a prominent figure for more than 15 years, he has never run for president but contemplated making a run, most recently in 2008. If Gingrich enters, he would be in the top tier of candidates along with three former governors: Sarah Palin of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas.