Fred Thompson Endorses Newt Gingrich

Former U.S. Senator and TV actor Fred Thompson on Thursday endorsed Newt Gingrich's campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, appearing at a press conference in which Gingrich also received a strong showing of Georgia support.

A few miles from Gingrich's Buckhead headquarters, Thompson stood in front of a phalanx of state legislators at the press conference near the state Capitol in downtown Atlanta and declared that the former House speaker shows the toughness and debating ability to confront President Obama on his policies.

"This is a time for fundamental change, and if we don't, we're going to be in real trouble in this country," Thompson said in the deep, resonant voice familiar to viewers of "Law & Order." "And I think Newt Gingrich is the man to do that."

State Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) in introducing Thompson said that Gingrich has received the support of 60 elected officials in Georgia. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, locked in a tough race with Gingrich for the GOP presidential nomination headed into the Florida primary, has also received significant support from Georgia officials.

One of Romney's Georgia supporters,  Rep. Lynne Riley (R - Johns Creek), after Thompson's ,press conference issued a statement in favor of Romney.

"Newt Gingrich has spent the last decade running from his Georgia roots and into the arms of the Washington insider establishment," Riley said. "We need a steady, reliable, conservative leader who can beat Barack Obama and turn around our broken economy — not a lobbyist and former legislator who left Congress in disgrace. As president, Mitt Romney will never embarrass the people of Georgia."

"Newt tells you what his opinion is. Newt is just Newt."

Looking ahead to March 6, in which Georgia and other states will hold primaries, Thompson said, "Super Tuesday — that's going to be very good for Newt." He said that Gingrich will be able to collect enough delegates to secure the nomination, although he won't be on the Super Tuesday ballot in Virginia.

Buoyed by a surprisingly strong triumph in South Carolina, Gingrich heads into the Florida primary Tuesday in a fierce battle with Romney, whom Thompson conceded has the edge in resources and organization. In response to a reporter's question about Gingrich falling behind in a Florida poll, Thompson discounted that and predicted a neck to neck race.

Thompson, also a former presidential candidate, said that Gingrich's South Carolina victory shows that Gingrich has the ability to appeal directly to the voters, beyond Super Pac ads and negative stories.

Thompson scorned those, including Republicans, who see Gingrich as a polarizing figure. "Newt tells you what his opinion is," Thompson said. "Newt is just Newt."

Gingrich's combativeness is the very quality that will make him the best GOP candidate against Obama, he said. He said that Gingrich will be able to put Obama on the defensive in debates. Predicting media attacks against the GOP candidate, Thompson said, "who's going to be able to stand in the gale and withstand that?"

He looked back at Gingrich's Contract With America when he was House speaker during the Clinton administration. "Most of it got passed," Thomspon said, citing welfare reform and a balanced budget.

After the press conference, Hill pointed to Gingrich's strength in Georgia and across the South, as shown in Gingrich's South Carolina win.

"Georgia is Newt's base, and Newt's going to go over the finish line for the nomination in the South," Hill said. ""South Carolina gave Mitt his welcome to the South."

Southerners like Gingrich because they believe he will balance the federal budget, "as the state has to," reduce regulations on small businesses and cut the size of government, Hill said.