Newt Gingrich 2012: Sarah Palin Could Play 'A Major Role'

From HUffington Post: Newt Gingrich 2012: Sarah Palin Could Play 'A Major Role'
Newt Gingrich seems poised to inject some 2008 flavor into his 2012 presidential campaign.

In a CNN interview set to air on Wednesday, the former House speaker is prepared to ask Sarah Palin "to play a major role" in his administration, a producer from "The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer" tweeted.

Gingrich's interest in Palin comes hours after the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate had some supportive words for his campaign. In a Tuesday Fox News interview, Palin said "If I were a South Carolinian, I would vote for Newt" to keep the primary process going.

Despite coming up short in Iowa and New Hampshire, Gingrich is still a presence in the overall 2012 Republican primary picture. A CBS News/New York Times poll released on Wednesday shows Newt in second place at 21 percent. Frontrunner Mitt Romney registered 28 percent of the vote in the poll.

This is not the first time that Gingrich has pegged Palin for a role in Washington. In late December, the GOP presidential hopeful told a tele-town hall that he would consider her as a vice presidential running mate or candidate for a cabinet secretary position.

While Sarah Palin has not fully endorsed Gingrich, her husband is officially in his corner. Todd Palin announced last Monday that he is behind the Georgian for the GOP's 2012 nomination. Once that news entered the public sphere, the former Alaska governor said the "first dude went rogue" -- noting that her husband did not consult with her before making that decision.

After running alongside Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) during the 2008 election, Palin's own 2012 presidential aspirations came to a halt in October. She cited family and faith as primary factors in her decision not to run.

"When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country," she said in a statement. "My decision maintains this order."

UPDATE (5:40 p.m. ET): In the interview with Wolf Blitzer, Gingrich labeled Palin as a person he'd call on for advice, but added that no official step has been taken regarding an administration position.

"I would ask her to consider taking a major role in the next administration if I'm president, but nothing has been discussed of any kind," he said. "And it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss it at this time."