Newt Gingrich officially admits he’s running for president

It's a day many thought would never actually come. After decades of hints and false starts, Newt Gingrich announced in a video today that he is finally, officially running for president.

"I am announcing my candidacy for president of the United States because I believe we can return America to hope and opportunity," the former House speaker says in the roughly two-minute long video.

In the spot, Gingrich talks up his legislative accomplishments in Congress, including balancing the budget, creating jobs and paying down the federal debt.

And in his only mention of specific foreign policy, Gingrich talks up his work with Ronald Reagan in a "difficult period," noting "we got jobs created again, Americans proud of America and the Soviet Union disappeared."

Pointing back to that momentum, Gingrich tells viewers the country can get back on the path to greatness.

"We can do it again," he declares. "But I want your help, because no one person in the Oval Office can get this done. We Americans are going to have to talk together, work together, find solutions together and insist on imposing those solutions on those forces that don't want to change."

It's an obvious dig at President Obama, who ran on "change" in the 2008 campaign. But Gingrich makes no mention of the sitting president. Notably, he also opts not to mention his wife, who has been a prominent feature of Gingrich's 2012 efforts. She's also not as prominent on Gingrich's new campaign website as she had been on his exploratory site.

"There's some people who don't mind if America becomes a wreck as long as they dominate the wreckage, but you and I know better," he says. "Let's get together, look reality in the face, tell the truth, make the tough choices, get the job done."

You can watch the video here:

(Screenshot of Gingrich via YouTube)