Election 2008: Only room for one GOP Southerner?

Former Georgia Rep. Newt Gingrich (R) has admitted to one reason he's vacillating about entering the 2008 presidential contest: the possibility that fellow Southerner Sen. Fred Thompson from Tennessee will throw his hat in the ring. The AP reports:

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Friday that a White House bid by fellow Southerner Fred Thompson would make him less likely to join the race.

"If Fred Thompson runs and he does well, then I think that makes it easier for me to not run," Gingrich said in a telephone interview.

None of the GOP hopefuls have stirred much interest in the South, in part reflected by the low fundraising totals they've collected from Southern states.

But even on this question, Gingrich is equivocal:

"On the other hand, just given what you've seen with (John) McCain the last few months, how can you predict?"