Gingrich Says Powell’s Course Is Key to His White House Plans

House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said Monday that his decision to run for President hinges in part on what retired Gen. Colin L. Powell decides about his own political ambitions.

The Georgia Republican has already said he will make a decision by the end of the year.

“Powell’s decision will have a big impact. He clearly is one of the people who has an ability, nationwide, to get an organization overnight. . . . If he were to decide to run in November, that would clearly make it less likely I would run,” Gingrich said.

Gingrich handed out trophies Monday at the U.S. 10K Classic in Marietta. He later donated blood in an American Red Cross holiday blood drive outside his office.

Gingrich said Powell’s forthcoming book, “My American Journey,” will spark further interest in Powell’s political ambitions, just as Gingrich’s book “To Renew America” did for him.

“People will get a better chance to get to know him. I think at that point, there will be a substantial amount of interest in him running, and sometime in November, I would guess, after he gets off the book tour, he’s going to have to make a very serious decision,” Gingrich said.

Powell’s political views are not well known, and his book, which comes out next week, doesn’t reveal any details other than that he is uncomfortable with both major parties. Political pundits have speculated that he might run as an independent candidate.