Newt

I believe this is the first time I've seen a direct reference in a major media outlet, to Newt Gingrich as a presidential hopeful for 2012.

I wrote here about the higher profile Gingrich has been aiming for this year, with a leadership vacuum in his Republican Party. In that post, I speculated open-endedly about where that might lead.

Newt will turn 69 years old in 2012 so, along with other baggage, his age could be an issue.