On Meet the Press, Newt Gingrich and Chris Dodd are going at it over Iraq. Newt has the wide, big-picture global vision of how the forces of freedom are getting knocked around in the war on terror, and how a deadline is just going to excite and inspire the bad guys. “If we’re gonna set a deadline, we might as well make it next Tuesday,” Newt said.

Chris Dodd has the argument that the Iraqi’s don’t know what they want, it’s a civil war, it’s time for us to get out and let them hash it out. Newt has the vision, but Dodd is expressing the sentiment of country weary of war.

Finally, Russert asks Newt whether he’s running.

Newt smiles. “I’m studying Chris Dodd’s campaign. If he demonstrates that there is a demand for a really white-haired candidate, then I’ll…”

“How about a ticket?” Dodd asks, laughing.

“I’m thinking about thinking about running,” Gingrich says finally. “By October, I’m confident we’ll be chatting.”