Politics

Gingrich says Allen West would be considered as his running mate

Steven Nelson Associate Editor
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Florida Republican Rep. Allen West may be the Republican candidate for vice president in 2012.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said at a Republican Palm Beach County fundraiser that if he won the Republican presidential nomination, he would strongly consider a Floridian as his running mate.

“Allen West would certainly be someone you’d look at,” Gingrich told NBC affiliate WPTV.

West responded, “We don’t know what the future holds, but I’m always willing to serve my country.”

“I have to pray about it and I have to clear it with my wife and two daughters,” he added. “I never thought that seven years ago when I retired here I’d be a United States Congressman.”

Elected in the November midterm election, West is one of two Republican African-Americans serving in Congress. He has rapidly emerged as a national conservative star.