Report: Gingrich and Romney held secret meeting

Newt Gingrich held a secret meeting with Mitt Romney ahead of the Louisiana primary on Saturday, according to a news report citing an anonymous source close to the Gingrich campaign.

The two reportedly met at the hotel where Romney was staying in New Orleans. Gingrich did not deny that the meeting took place, but said there was no deal that would spur his potential withdrawal from the campaign, according to the Washington Times, which first reported the meeting.

Some are speculating that the former House Speaker is looking to leverage his candidacy in exchange for aid with campaign debt or a position in a Romney administration.

For a deal to be brokered, though, the campaigns would have to overcome what has been a tense relationship during the GOP contest. It has seemed at times that Gingrich’s sole purpose for staying in the race was to prevent Romney from winning the nomination, and the many debates from earlier in the primary season were marked by harsh exchanges between the two.

On Wednesday, the Gingrich campaign told The Hill that it would be reducing its campaign schedule and laying off a third of its staff to try and stay afloat until the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla., in August.

Gingrich is now banking on a contested convention, in which Romney fails to accumulate the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the nomination, in hopes that he can rally sufficient support at the convention to steal the nomination from the party’s front-runner.

While Gingrich’s super-PAC, Winning Our Future, has been well-funded by billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, the campaign raised only $2.5 million in February, the least of the four remaining GOP candidates, while spending $2.8 million, leaving it $1.5 million in debt.

Adelson, who has been the primary source of funding for Gingrich’s super-PAC, on Wednesday said the candidate is “at the end of his line," signaling that he is unlikely to cut another check.

Many have speculated that a Gingrich withdrawal would benefit former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, as the two have battled to position themselves as the conservative alternative to Romney. Recent polling data, however, suggests that Gingrich backers are split in their support between the two contenders.

This story was updated at 8:57 a.m.

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