Newt Gingrich coming to campaign for Bob Bennett

SALT LAKE CITY — Former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich is coming to Salt Lake City next Wednesday to help formally kick off the re-election campaign of Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah.

"Newt Gingrich has always been a strong supporter of the senator and asked what he could do to help," said Jim Bennett, the senator's son and campaign manager. He added that Gingrich is not being paid by the campaign to participate.

The formal kickoff event is from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday at the Grand America Hotel Ballroom, 555 S. Main, in Salt Lake City. Bennett said that besides a speech by Gingrich, the senator will also give a speech outlining why he is running for re-election.

After the kickoff, the Bennett campaign will have a $1,000-a-head campaign fundraiser at the hotel, featuring Gingrich.

Bennett said the kickoff event is open to the public, and free reservations may be made by calling 801-328-4889. Bennett noted that invitations had been sent to many past GOP state delegates and regular party caucus attendees.

Gingrich was speaker of the U.S. House from 1995 to 1999. He helped Republicans gain a House majority for the first time in 40 years by pushing the GOP Contract With America during the 1994 elections. He is seen by some pundits as a possible presidential candidate in 2012.

Gingrich at times also has been a polarizing figure. He once was reprimanded by the House for ethics violations and paid the $300,000 cost of the investigation. He rankled some when it was reported that he had an extramarital affair at the same time that Congress was looking at impeaching Bill Clinton for perjury relating to extramarital relations.

Other big-name politicians who have held fundraisers for Bennett during this campaign have included former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Karl Rove, a former Utahn who was the political director for George W. Bush.

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