May 05, 2011

Fox ends contracts of Gingrich, Santorum

Fox News has terminated its contracts with former Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Senator Rick Santorum after the deadline for them to decide on presidential bids passed on May 1, a source familiar with the move told POLITICO.

Fox suspended the two contributors in early March and stopped paying them as they mulled presidential runs, but left them the option of returning to the network. The contracts' end marks another sign that Gingrich, who has repeatedly delayed his decision citing business obligations, is in the race -- though he dropped out of tonight's Fox debate.

The network may also intensify the network's pressure on Mike Huckabee, the host of a Fox show, to make up his mind about a possible bid.