John Boehner, riding high after meeting Pope Francis, had the perfect moment to announce he was retiring from Congress, and he didn't want his supporters to suffer politically, said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Sunday on
"The Cats Roundtable" on AM 970 in New York.
Boehner would have been able to win an attempt by conservatives who vacate the speaker's chair – effectively firing him – but he knew those who supported him would face primary elections next time because of the anti-establishment sentiment in the party, Gingrich told host John Catsimatidis.
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"He had been exhausted. He had been fighting a long battle with critics on the right. I think he just decided, 'You know, enough’s enough.'"
Gingrich said Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy will be the next speaker, and will bring new ideas to the office.
"He’s a very bright, capable guy," Gingrich said.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus also appeared on the program, and agreed that McCarthy is likely the next speaker.
"The only person I know right now that’s announced for speaker and has accumulated quite a few votes is Kevin McCarthy," Priebus said. "I haven’t heard of another person as of now that’s running."
Appearing on ABC's "
This Week," Gingrich said he expects Republicans to win the White House, with one of the three outsiders, Donald Trump, Ben Carson or Carly Fiorina to be the next president.
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