Trump intends to endorse Gingrich

[February 02, 2012]  LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Real estate mogul and reality show star Donald Trump intends to endorse Newt Gingrich's GOP presidential bid, according to a source close to Gingrich's campaign.

Trump is set to announce his support Thursday in Las Vegas, where Gingrich is campaigning in advance of Nevada's Republican caucuses on Saturday.

Trump's backing would bring the former House speaker a blitz of media attention heading into the contest and following his defeat in Florida.

Trump announced Wednesday that he was to make news in the presidential race but did not say what it was.

Asked about the possible endorsement Wednesday in Reno, Nev., Gingrich said he had "no idea what the Donald is going to do."

"He is always interesting," Gingrich said of Trump. "And I don't know of anybody who does a better job of getting attention by announcing that he will presently announce something."

Gingrich sought Trump's endorsement at a meeting in December at the real estate mogul's Trump Tower office in Manhattan. There, Gingrich told reporters he had persuaded Trump to mentor promising children from some of New York's poorest schools.

The former House speaker had come under fire for suggesting poor children should do janitorial chores in their schools to learn the value of work.

Gingrich also agreed to appear in a Republican debate Trump was to host in Iowa in December. But other candidates, including frontrunner Mitt Romney, turned down the debate, forcing Trump to cancel.

Trump had flirted with the idea of jumping in the presidential race as a third-party candidate but ultimately decided not to.

Appearing on CBS' "Face The Nation" on Sunday, Trump praised Gingrich.

"He's got great ideas. He's very smart, he's very tough and he is a great debater," he said.

Gingrich was pounded by Romney in Florida in Tuesday's Republican primary. Romney is considered a heavy favorite in Nevada, a state he won when he sought the GOP nomination in 2008.?

The source was not authorized to speak for the campaign and spoke on condition of anonymity. The endorsement was first reported by KLAS-TV in Las Vegas.

Associated Press Writer Beth Fouhy in Las Vegas contributed to this story.

[Associated Press; By SHANNON McCAFFREY]

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