Gingrich group raised $8M in 6 months

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich reported Friday that his political group, American Solutions Winning for the Future, raised $8 million in six months.

A spokesman describes the group as one of the country's "largest grassroots organizations," Politico reported, and its officials say its goal is not boosting Gingrich's political career. Gingrich is often named as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012.

"American Solutions exists to reflect the interests and views of a tri-partisan majority of American people and to provide solutions and transform the country from the world that fails to the world that works," Dan Varroney, the chief operating officer, said.

In its report to the Internal Revenue Service, American Solutions said it received $460,000 in contributions between Jan. 1 and June 30 from oil companies and industry groups and $200,000 from the Workforce Fairness Institute, which advocates for businesses in labor relations matters. Gingrich supports their pet causes -- offshore drilling and opposition to the union-backed Employee Free Choice Act.

American Solutions employs 17 people, including a pollster. Last year, it spent $2.6 million on first-class plane tickets and charter flights for Gingrich, Politico said.