Gingrich: It’s not too late to jump in

Citing Howard Dean’s downfall in 2004, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Tuesday said it’s not too late for candidates to jump into the presidential race this fall and win their party’s nomination.

Speaking at a National Press Club luncheon, Gingrich said he will decide whether to run in late September or early October.

{mosads}"I try to remind people, three weeks before the Iowa caucus in 2004 the Democratic front-runner was Howard Dean. He had raised more money, he had gotten more magazine covers — everybody though he was the front-runner. He had the biggest online contributor base,” Gingrich said.

He called the current political environment “consultant-driven” and contended that for the average American, the race doesn’t begin until after Christmas.

“ I think it is proven I’m candidate material,” he said when asked if he could organize a campaign quickly to compete in states with early primaries.

Of the GOP candidates, Gingrich cited four as “serious”: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.), who is expected to announce his candidacy in early September.

He called Huckabee an “interesting dark horse” with a message that is starting to resonate.