But he withheld his endorsement, refusing, under prodding from reporters, even to say whom he planned to vote for in the Georgia primary.

"I think the Georgia primary is very important," he continued, speaking ata news conference after his speech.

Representative Gingrich sounded the "welfare state" theme again this weekend while campaigning with President Bush for the Georgia primary.

As a rule, Mr. Carter had refused to support any national Democratic candidate until after the Georgia primary.

Newt Gingrich is projected as the winner of the Georgia primary.

He voted for Mr. Clinton in the Georgia primary.

I also told them the Pig-Jig people had said Hart could be a rib-tasting judge if he won the Georgia primary.

The Georgia primary is on March 3.

The Georgia primary is held a week before the round of so-called Super Tuesday elections, which include five Southern and two border states.

Gingrich also mounted an unsuccessful bid for President in the 2012 election, but withdrew after winning only the South Carolina and Georgia primaries.