Newt announces his national co-chairs and Georgia chair

ABC:

Former Georgia Govs. Sonny Perdue and Zell Miller, who also served as a U.S. Senator, will serve as national chairmen of Gingrich’s campaign. Miller, a Democrat, famously denounced John Kerry at the 2004 Republican National Convention and supported George W. Bush’s re-election campaign.

Current Gov. Nathan Deal will chair Gingrich's campaign in Georgia.

“I’m proud to have three very important Georgians helping lead our campaign,” Gingrich said in a statement. “Sonny, Zell and Nathan are good friends and have always provided good counsel. They will be there very important voices as we talk to the American people about the right policies we need to win the future."

"America, at this critical juncture, needs a leader who has the discernment and understanding of where America needs to go, and the courage and leadership to implement that vision,” Perdue said in a statement. “Newt Gingrich has what it takes to do both."

“Newt is a leader,” Miller said in a statement. “Newt’s election as president is critical to the future of our country. We need a leader who has proven they can make big things happen. You don’t do big things by being a wall flower.”

At a Christian Science Monitor breakfast with reporters in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Gingrich said he will play in all the early states and has asked his supporters in Georgia to split their time campaigning between the neighboring states of Florida and South Carolina. Gingrich’s campaign is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga.

Newt is hosting first fundraiser Wednesday with some familiar names

This upcoming Wednesday, in Atlanta, Newt will be joined by current Georgia Governor Nathan Deal; his predecessor, Sonny Perdue; and former U.S. Senator Zell Miller. It will be the first major fundraiser of a possible Gingrich campaign.

Deal was one of the first public officials to endorse Newt back in January.

Perdue did the same in March.

Miller is expected to be a national co-chairman of the campaign.

Newt "leaning toward a a yes"; the announcement could be in Philadelphia in May

"In a conference call Wednesday with former staffers and supporters former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said 'we are leaning toward a yes' on a presidential run, CNN has learned."

The story on CNN.com also says, "He revealed he hopes to announce a presidential bid in late May at noon in front of Philadelphia's Independence Hall. He asked the group for help building a national audience for that event on the internet and through local media."

Also from the story:

In an apparent reference to the Contract with America that helped make him speaker in the 1990s he told the group 'the campaign I want to build would have a contract in late September of 12' and help 'build the party across the board.'

...

Several times Gingrich pointed out that 'for legal reasons' he can't say too much -- 'we are still in the exploratory phase,' but he has lined up the beginning of a campaign rollout. He expects former Georgia Democratic Senator and Governor Zell Miller to be a co-chair 'once we put the campaign together.' He says his campaign would be headquartered in Atlanta.

He also said he is talking to and trying to recruit supporters in key states, such as he did in Iowa earlier this week. A Gingrich aide said he's planning direct mail solicitations starting next week and telemarketing efforts beginning this week.

In addition to doing well in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, Gingrich said he hopes to 'seal off Georgia as a favorite son.' He added that given the way primary timing may shake out 'Florida may suddenly loom very, very large.'

One aide on the call said they've seen 'enormous excitement' in response to the Newtexplore2012.com website setup last week. And Gingrich himself said donors who can't afford to give too much up front are committing $50-$100 a month. He explained about 25 percent of the initial donations came from Carroll County, Georgia but 'it is gradually changing' with donors from all over the country.

...

He asked the group on the call for fundraising support and assistance building enthusiasm for his kickoff announcement online and in local media markets. He also invited feedback when there are missteps -- for example, last week's announcement of his plans to start an exploratory phase in his potential run.

Gingrich said, 'I concede last week's announcement got cluttered in ways that were pretty foolish, but we've moved beyond that.'

As he does during public events, the would-be candidate consistently mentioned his wife, Callista. She spoke briefly on the call to thank the group saying 'we can't do this alone.'