Political Hotsheet
By

Sarah Huisenga /

CBS News/ March 11, 2012, 10:47 PM

Gingrich, Perry deny they seek a joint ticket

Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, left, listens to Texas Gov. Rick Perry answer a question during a Republican presidential candidate debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Elise Amendola

(CBS News) Newt Gingrich's spokesman on Sunday dismissed speculation about a potential Gingrich-Rick Perry ticket being announced before the Republican National Convention in August, saying the two camps have not discussed the idea "at any level."

A report by Fox News cited "sources close to the Gingrich campaign" saying preliminary conversations about such a ticket have begun with the hopes that pairing the former Speaker of the House and the Texas governor might unite evangelical, tea party and other conservative voters.

But Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said no one in the campaign has reached out to Perry's camp about a shared ticket.

"While there's certainly a lot of people who are great admirers of Rick Perry on our campaign. whether or not the campaign has gone as far as to reach out to Governor Perry about a possible VP ticket, any sort of talks along those lines would be premature -- it would be something more appropriate for later on in the process," Hammond told CBS News.

Special Section: Campaign 2012

Catherine Frazier, a spokesman for Perry, also called the speculation "humbling but premature."

The report came just two days before voters in Mississippi and Alabama head to the polls to vote in primaries that are vital to the continuation of Gingrich's campaign. Perry dropped out of the race in January, throwing his support to the former speaker on the same day.

Gingrich frequently references his endorsement on the campaign trail, saying expects to win Texas decisively with his help. But since dropping out, Perry has appeared with Gingrich only once on the campaign trail, when he attended a debate last month in Mesa, Ariz.

Rebecca Kaplan contributed to this report.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
14 Comments Add a Comment
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lg144 says:
Republicans have done more damage to America than any terrorist ever could.

The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This is their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they could do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the Third World country that they want for their corporate overlords.

They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person voting to support Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country. Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings and the polls for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between Timothy McVie and the republicans is he used explosives and they used their congressional positions.

The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement is another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) and cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They are counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way. Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans cannot let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.

Republicans are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes. They continue to attack women's health care, planned parenthood and contraceptives.

After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats. Time will tell if voters will fall for this again. Prevent abuse of struggling Americans and America. Just say no to voting for republicans.
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Anybody77 says:
Mitt Romney 2012!
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boatdocster says:
Pres and Veep of the Moon Unit!!
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stupa5 says:
Maybe they just sink a joint!
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RealiteBites says:
Sounds like Gingrich put out the rumor to try and get Perry supporters to vote for him?

But really, Perry brings nothing to the table otherwise.

It would make more sense if Santorum and Gingrich teamed up at the convention to push Santorum overtop Romney for the nomination, with Gingrich coming along as VP as part of the deal.

Although, if Romney wins on his own, he might need Santorum to coalesce the party?

Gingrich/Perry makes no sense, really ...
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fitstshu says:
nice ring to that ticket eh?
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randomites says:
"seek a joint ticket"
Is this another one of those marijuana stories?
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satin_lingerie says:
Perry needs a bus ticket back to Texas so he can play governor until he is thrown out of office for impotent intelligence.
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NewtsArmy931 says:
Mitt can't closed the deal? Hmmmm. It is all about closing the deal! Right! We must pick between the JFK Mitt or Jimmy Carter Rick? Just GOP Group Thinkers asking other GOP Group Thinkers to waste their vote again!

http://youtu.be/D3EJwdpEgP0
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markag55 says:
Hahahaahaha! This is the funniest, most bizarre, article I've read in recent months, which means it is "over-the-top." Neither Perry nor Gingrich can win more than one state alone. How in the hell do their so-called "advisers" think they can win any state together, let alone the entire country? Maybe they could run as President, Vice-President, and Assistant Vice-President along with Santorum? We could run our country as a triumphant! Since the GOP's "mascot" is an elephant (Lincoln has been rolling in his grave for many decades at this point), why not have their "elephant" turn into a "triumphant?" I think that's hysterical! I'm all for it!
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