Donald Trump reported to endorse Gingrich today (Updated: Or is it Mitt?)

It's an important endorsement for Newt but not a game changer. The Donald has that celebrity aura as well as some support among the GOP faithful. Chances are, a lot of Donald supporters were already going with Newt.

Still, it's good for Gingrich because it generates positive headlines and gives him a lot of free media.

The Hill:

Reality show host Donald Trump is set to endorse Newt Gingrich Thursday in Las Vegas, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Trump, who has flirted with his own presidential run and at one point last summer was leading the GOP polls, could help the fortunes of the former House speaker, reeling from a tough loss in the pivotal Florida primary.

Gingrich was coy when asked about the possibility Wednesday, saying he had "no idea what the Donald is going to do."

"He is always interesting," Gingrich said of Trump. "And I don't know of anybody who does a better job of getting attention by announcing that he will presently announce something."

Gingrich was considered a frontrunner for Trump's endorsement since agreeing to attend a Newsmax-sponsored debate that the real estate mogul was set to host in December. Other candidates, including Mitt Romney, said they would not be able to attend, ultimately forcing organizers to cancel.

Trump has said that if the candidate he endorses doesn't win the nomination, he may make a third party bid for the presidency. He made a big show of having a meeting with money men and political operatives on Monday presumably to get advice on whether to make the bid or not.

He certainly has enough vanity in him for two presidential races. And he's rich enough to mount two more. My guess is that if he feels the GOP nominee can't win, he may take the plunge -- massaging his ego and promoting himself in the process. The Republicans would be permanently upset with him, but I doubt that enters much into his calculus. Donald Trump is who he is and what other people think about him has never mattered.

Update:

CNN just flashed the news that it will be Mitt Romney who gets The Donald's blessing today, not Newt Gingrich. I suppose we'll have to wait and see, but as usual, the focus now is not on who he is endorsing but the Donald himself.



If you experience technical problems, please write to helpdesk@americanthinker.com