Via Yahoo:

WASHINGTON – Democrats will nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton for president in 2008 and Barack Obama will be her running mate, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicts.

Let’s change the headline to “New Gingrich thinks what everyone else thinks”.

I mean, seriously, who doesn’t think Obama/Clinton, in some order, will be the eventual ticket? Sure, it’s possible Hillary could win the nomination and choose someone like Bill Richardson but come on, who thinks that’s gonna happen?

Gingrich is ruling out John McCain’s chances among the Republican contenders.

Again, thank you Professor Obvious.

Gingrich said he had dinner recently with Thompson, the former Tennessee senator and actor who has set up a political committee that allows him to raise money for a presidential bid. An official launch is likely in September, after the Labor Day holiday.

Gingrich said he expects Thompson will enter what is shaping up as a competitive race for the GOP nomination against Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, and Giuliani, a former New York City mayor.

Gingrich is waiting to see whether Fred will become the GOP’s savior. If not, Gingrich will ride in on his white horse and become the new messiah for Republicans. At least, I think that’s how he sees it in his head:

In the fall, Gingrich might decide to jump in, depending on how the Republican candidates are faring against Clinton, the New York senator.

“If there is a vacuum and if there’s a real need for somebody to be prepared to debate Senator Clinton, then I would consider running. I think we’ll know that in October,” Gingrich said.

In other words, if he doesn’t have to compete with better candidates, he’ll jump in the race. I think it’s a bad idea personally but that seems to be just me.