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December 30, 2011

Energy Industry Rewarded Gingrich After Shift on Climate Change 
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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is already looking beyond Iowa amidst
sinking poll numbers. Gingrich says he expects wide support in the
upcoming primaries after Iowa, including South Carolina.

Newt Gingrich: "It depends on what happens, it depends what the margins
are. But, yeah, there are more than three tickets. Considering that I am
20 points ahead in some of the states, it would be fairly foolish of me
not to stay in the state. It is a long way from here to picking a
nominee."

Gingrich faced new questions over his post-Congressional lobbying career
this week following the disclosure he received a surge in donations from
major U.S. energy companies after changing his stance on climate change.
One month after joining House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a 2008 ad for a
global warming awareness campaign backed by former Vice President Al
Gore, Gingrich began calling for increased gas drilling and the
rejection of cap and trade legislation for carbon pollution. According
to the Washington Post, Gingrich's group, American Solutions for Winning
the Future, immediately received a flood of energy industry donations
eventually topping $2 million.



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