Now that Newt Gingrich has done the (relatively) inevitable and taken himself out of the presidential hunt, perhaps he will emerge as something of a kingmaker in still the open Republican race. (Hillary has the Democratic nomination completely in the bag, I’m assuming.) As the AP ^[1] writes:

Over the past few months, Gingrich had stoked speculation he might enter the crowded GOP field. He noted that Republicans, especially conservatives, were unhappy with the candidates already in the race.

Yet he also has spoken positively of all the leading contenders, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Call me cynical, but something tells me Newt will not award his backing for nothing. [Sec'y of State? -ed. Or a good talk show in prime times.]