Gingrich Creates Exploratory Committee

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich has launched a new website as the first step toward a possible run for the White House in 2012.

After making a brief Atlanta appearance on Thursday, the former Congressman -- who lived in East Cobb's Indian Hills community while representing Georgia's 6th district -- went a step further by submitting paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service to establish an exploratory committee. 

The Gingrich site, NewtExplore2012, was set up to accept donations from political supporters. 

"We are excited about exploring whether there is sufficient support for my potential candidacy for President of this exceptional country," concluded a note from Gingrich and his wife Callista. There also is a companion Facebook page and Twitter account. 

The Fox News Channel, where Gingrich has been a paid commentator, has placed him on leave for 60 days, along with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who also is mulling a presidential bid. 

Already Gingrich's site is coming under fire for apparently using the same stock photo used on a website of the late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Another potential presidential candidate, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, has had some fun with a close variation of the Gingrich web address. Users typing in ExploreNewt2012.com are redirected to Roemer's site. The Democrat-turned-Republican announced an exploratory effort on Thursday. 

And if that wasn't enough, Media Matters, a liberal media advocacy organization, scooped up the ExploreNewt.com domain and redirected that address to a page with a long list of its criticisms of Gingrich.

Noted political numbers-cruncher Nate Silver doesn't give a candidacy by Gingrich much of a chance, placing him above only another conservative lightning rod, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.