Ups and downs: Gingrich notes history's lessons

Atlanta (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich began his remarks at the Atlanta press club Wednesday with an admonition for the pundits and media already reporting the death of his campaign.

"I want to say one thing about the campaign before I begin," Gingrich said to flashing bulbs and feverishly clacking laptops. "In July of 2007 Hillary Clinton was going to be the Democratic nominee and Rudy Giuliani the Republican (nominee). John McCain was out of money and written off by the press. The fact is campaigns go up and down."

His remarks about the last presidential race were aimed at pre-empting the assembled reporters who were eager to ask him about the missteps plaguing his campaign, including Tuesday's news that his two top finance campaign staff members had quit and the embarrassing disclosure of a second high-dollar credit line he held at the Tiffany's jewelry store.

"I'm not running to talk about the nuances of campaigns" he said, telling members of the media that he would not be answering questions about "campaign process."