Seeking to quell growing speculation he will leave to run for president next year--as well as to put the brakes on the increasingly open race to replace him as speaker--House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., wrote to his colleagues Friday "to lay to rest some rumors and hopefully cool off some activities that seem to be premature. It is my intention to run again for speaker in 2000 and to serve until January 2003."
The statement, however, stopped well short of categorically ruling out a Gingrich presidential bid. Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, has long signaled his desire to succeed Gingrich as speaker, and in recent weeks his allies have been canvassing the House Republican Conference to gauge support.
Also in the running to be the first speaker of the "post-Newt era" is House Appropriations Chairman Bob Livingston, R-La., who this weekend told Fox News Sunday that "I think that I may well win" the eventual race.
While reiterating his support for Gingrich, Livingston said, "I'm going after the votes in the event that he chooses to do other things. I'm going after the votes vigorously, and I'm doing pretty well."
Livingston supporters have told CongressDaily the chairman has close to 100 votes already lined up.
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