Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum contracts ended by Fox News
Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum would be dropped on May 1 unless they notified the network that they were not running for president.
Former speaker of the house of representatives Newt Gingrich arrives to address the National Rifle Association's 140th annual meeting, on April 29, in Pittsburgh.
Keith Srakocic/AP
WASHINGTON
Fox News Channel has ended the contracts of on-air contributors Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum as the two former lawmakers explore White House bids.
The top-rated cable news network had previously said Gingrich and Santorum would be dropped on May 1 unless they notified the network that they were not running for president.
A network spokeswoman confirmed Thursday that the contracts had been terminated.
A former House speaker from Georgia, Gingrich has been testing the waters for a presidential campaign and is expected to enter the wide-open race.
Santorum, a former U.S. senator for Pennsylvania, has established a presidential exploratory committee and frequently visited early nominating states.