Newt Gingrich Plays Up Southern Roots in Choice of Campaign Chairmen

With former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi staying out of the Republican presidential race, the field of candidates to take on President Barack Obama seems a bit shallow in one of the GOPs strongest bases -- the South. Despite a rough start to his presidential campaign this month, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich looked to play up his Georgia roots on Tuesday when he named three veteran politicians from the Peach State to lead his campaign.

On Tuesday, Gingrich named former Gov. Sonny Perdue and former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, a Democrat, to be his campaigns national chairmen. Miller, who also served as governor, crossed party lines to back George W. Bushs re-election campaign in 2004 and spoke at the Republican convention that year. Gingrich also named current Gov. Nathan Deal, a longtime congressman who was elected to his current position in November, to head up his efforts in Georgia.

Im proud to have three very important Georgians helping lead our campaign, said Gingrich. Sonny, Zell and Nathan are good friends and have always provided good counsel. They will be three very important voices as we talk to the American people about the right policies we need to win the future.