“Newt is not running,” spokesman Rick Tyler told the Associated Press Saturday. “It is legally impermissible for him to continue on as chairman of American Solutions [for Winning the Future] and to explore a campaign for president.”

Earlier this week Gingrich said he was exploring the possibility of making a run.

He told WSB-TV Channel 2 reporter Lori Geary that he wanted $30 million in pledges before launching a campaign.

By Saturday afternoon that effort was over before it ever really started.

Gingrich, first elected to Congress in 1978, became the first Republican speaker of the House since 1954 when he led his party to victory in the 1994 congressional elections. He resigned suddenly from Congress four years after his party lost five House seats in the 1998 elections.

In the nine years since, Gingrich has not sought public office, but he has remained vocal as an author and speaker for hire.