Now that the race for the Republican presidential nomination looks to be wrapped up in former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s favor, the suggestion throughout that race that there would be bad blood between the participants doesn’t seem to be the case.
On Friday’s “The Laura Ingraham Show,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, one of Romney’s most vociferous opponents during the nominating process, said he will be helping Romney out on the campaign trail.
“Look, I talk regularly with the Romney folks,” he said. “I’m helping him in a number of places. I’m doing an event next week in Georgia for him and I’m going to speak for him at the Georgia convention next weekend. I’m going to be with him at the end of the month in Las Vegas at a big event, and I’m going to do all I can to help Mitt.”
And although there had been some questions as to whether or not Gingrich was just going through the motions with his endorsement of Romney, the former Speaker of the House said that wasn’t the case.
“But I just want to be clear — my endorsement for Romney is very positive and very aggressive,” he said. “And both Callista and I will campaign for him. And this idea that it is a tepid endorsement is just media nonsense. But, I told them if I’m useful, I’ll be glad to speak at the convention. If they don’t think it’s useful, I won’t speak there. That’s their call. They got to run the convention to fit their campaign.”
As for the importance of a slot at the Republican convention this fall, Gingrich told Laura Ingraham’s listeners a speech wasn’t necessary for him to raise his stature.
“I can get media with or without a speech,” he said. “So I think they should do whatever they think is helpful to them. They told me they want me to play a significant role both on the platform and at the convention. And I want to do everything I can to help elect Mitt Romney.”