Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has raised more money than former Govs. Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin and every other potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate with a political committee. Gingrich’s
America
n Solutions has pulled in more than $52 million in its first four years, the Washington Post reports.
The media pundit and author runs a host of operations dubbed by the Post as Newt Inc. They include the Gingrich Group, a consulting firm; Gingrich Productions, a media company; Newt.org, a web portal, Renewing American Leadership, a religious nonprofit; and the Americano, a Hispanic news service, the Post said.
Longtime aide and spokesman Rick Tyler said, "I don't know anyone else like him. There is no other political figure who has been out of office for 10 years who has maintained such a presence and name recognition. It's clearly a plus," the Post said.
However, some speculate the business operations could be trouble for Gingrich should he run for president in 2012. In 1997 Gingrich was ordered to pay a $300,000 penalty for failing to ensure his nonprofits did not run afoul of tax laws and for giving false information to investigators. Gingrich was the first House speaker in 208 years to be reprimanded for his conduct, the Post said.
The IRS later determined the two Gingrich groups involved in the matter did not violate tax law, the Post said.
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