Gingrich group to appear at straw poll

An organization headed by Newt Gingrich donated $17,500 to the Republican Party of Iowa, giving the group some prime real estate at the party's straw poll in August.

Gingrich says he will decide in the fall whether to seek the presidency. Although Gingrich and his group, American Solutions for Winning the Future, will attend the straw poll, the former House Speaker isn't expected to be on the ballot.

The former Georgia congressman serves as general chairman of the group, a tax-exempt committee that has paid for Gingrich's travel and planned Internet-based workshops that will address problems facing the country.

Mary Tiffany, a spokeswoman with the Republican Party of Iowa, said in return for the donation, American Solutions will get space at the Aug. 11 straw poll in Ames, a major fundraiser for the state party.

"His group will have some sort of presence there, and they have paid for land," she said Tuesday.

Tiffany said the base amount for presidential candidates starts at $15,000, while fees paid by interest groups and organizations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Other Republican candidates, including Mitt Romney, have declined to say what they're spending to participate in the event, and John McCain and Rudy Giuliani have opted to skip the straw poll.

Gingrich's spokesman, Rick Tyler, said the former lawmaker has headed election-based workshops since 1984, and will do so at the straw poll.

"This is going to be an American Solutions workshop to actually help all candidates understand the approach we need in solving America's challenges," he said.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A former Education secretary who also served two terms as South Carolina's governor endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday.

Richard Riley was education chief under former President Clinton from 1992 to 2001. At a news conference Tuesday, Riley noted he has known Clinton since he was governor in Arkansas.

"Hillary, I will tell you, is a woman of faith with a strong set of core values," Riley said.

Riley will serve as a South Carolina campaign co-chairman.

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On the Net:

American Solutions for Winning the Future: http://www.americansolutions.com/

Republican Party of Iowa: http://www.iowagop.org/