ATLANTA — A spokesman for Newt Gingrich says the former House speaker will announce Wednesday he is running for president.

Rick Tyler said Gingrich will make the announcement by Facebook and Twitter. He will give an interview to Fox News later that night.

Gingrich will offer his first speech as a presidential candidate at the Georgia Republican Party Convention on Friday.

Gingrich has made no secret of his White House ambitions. He's been raising money and assembling a campaign team for months.

Getting into the race marks a comeback attempt by the former Georgia congressman who stepped down from the House in 1998 after four tumultuous years as speaker. He had led the GOP to their first majority in the House in 40 years.