Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 3, 1995 TAG: 9506060064
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
Three months after ruling out a 1996 presidential run, House Speaker Newt Gingrich is mulling the idea again - consulting advisers and preparing for a jam-packed swing to every corner of the great state of New Hampshire.
``There are people dying for him to do it. But I don't know whether he will be in or not - and I don't think he knows either,'' said party activist William Bennett, who spent Memorial Day weekend with Gingrich and GOP confidants in Florida.
There is persistent grumbling in Republican ranks that the current field of nine contenders is somehow lacking - in stature, or vision, or excitement. ``People are looking for someone to make their heart beat faster,'' says Gary Bauer, a social conservative activist.
Gingrich told Business Week recently, ``I don't have any compulsive urge to run for president.'' But he does appear to have an urge to make it clear he hasn't ruled anything out, his February statement notwithstanding.
``Does he really want to be the second most important Republican in Washington?'' said Times Mirror Center polling director Andrew Kohut. ``Is he going to risk that? I think he runs.''
Next Friday, Gingrich begins a four-day visit to New Hampshire, the state with the first presidential primary. Many party figures believe that Bob Dole will win the GOP nomination if he can get a fast start in New Hampshire.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB