Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is set to receive Secret Service protection starting Wednesday, two people with knowledge of the security plan confirmed to the Associated Press.
They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.
The former House speaker is the third of the four remaining Republican hopefuls to get a Secret Service detail. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has had Secret Service protection since Feb. 1, and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania received Secret Service protection last week.
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is the only Republican candidate without a Secret Service detail.
Mr. Gingrich requested Secret Service protection last month. He is scheduled to campaign Wednesday in Alabama after his win in neighboring Georgia, the state he represented in his U.S. House career. Alabama’s primary is March 13.
Secret Service protection is given to each major party’s presidential nominee but can be provided earlier if the Homeland Security Department approves a campaign’s request.
Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fundraising.
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