Barbour on Gingrich: “I’m Crazy About Him”

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich has decided to form a presidential exploratory committee this week, taking his first official step toward running for president. ABC News broke this news on Tuesday morning, following months of speculation about Gingrich’s intentions. Though he’s toyed with running for president for decades, Gingrich has never actually followed through.

The move will make Gingrich the highest-profile Republican to announce his intention to challenge Obama. But it’s unclear how he’ll fare in the Republican field, drawing only 12 percent support among Iowa Republicans and 6 percent in New Hampshire, as Talking Points Memo notes. But the Georgia Republican elicited unabashed praise from at least one fellow Southern legislator: Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.). “I’m crazy about him,” Barbour told reporters, exiting a congressional hearing on health care on Tuesday. 

Barbour held back, though, from making any prognostications about the Republican primary. When asked about how Gingrich stacked up against the other likely 2012 candidates, the governor replied: “Depends on who runs.”

Speculation has also swirled about a potential presidential bid by Barbour himself. But in recent months, Barbour’s racially insensitive remarks about civil rights and the Ku Klux Klan seemed to downgrade his chances of a run. That being said, an endorsement from Barbour could be a factor in a candidate’s ability to solidify Southern support, so expect Barbour to remain in the spotlight as the Republican contest limps forward.

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate