Ex-House speaker Newt Gingrich considered as Donald Trump's running mate

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has said he is among the "five or six people" being considered as the running mate of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump who is expected to announce his name next week.

Gingrich, 73, a Republican presidential hopeful in 2012 elections, said in an interview to Fox News that currently "five or six people" including him are being vetted for the vice presidential running mate of Trump, 70, who he said would make the announcement sometime next week.

"If Trump offers the position and is serious about it, which I think he would be after our conversations, Callista (wife) and I would feel compelled to serve the country," said Gingrich, a day after Trump at an election rally said that Gingrich would play an important role in his administration.

Gingrich attended a Trump rally in Ohio on Wednesday.

"I think he is a remarkable figure. He has great strengths, he has weaknesses but on balance he is historic," Gingrich, who is one of the first few Republican leaders to have supported Trump in the early part of his campaign, said.

"He (Trump) beat out all those other guys to be the nominee and I think we are at a crossroads in American history, frankly, captured in part by what happened over the last few days. We are either going to clean up Washington or Washington is going to corrupt the whole country," he said.

At a rally in Ohio on Wednesday, Trump said if Gingrich is his running mate, no one would be able to beat him in debates.

Trump has said his vice presidential shortlist includes 10 people including two generals and would make the announcement before the Cleveland Convention beginning July 18.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is unlikely to be picked up for the post, a New Jersey-based media outlet said.

Gingrich and Christie are the two top names being highly speculated as Trump's running mate. Based on sources, NJ.Com said it is most likely to be Gingrich.

In another interview to CNN, Gingrich alleged that the media has distorted Trump's tweet.

"I think it is so profoundly dishonest that it sickens me and makes me very angry. The media's deliberate distortion. It's absurdity. He has got a son-in-law who's an Orthodox Jew, his daughter has converted to Judaism, grandchildren who are Jewish. And he gave a speech at AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) that was pretty definitive. And in the middle of this, you get this kind of smear?" he said.

Gingrich said Trump would continue to attack the media.

"He's not going to back off. A substantial part of the campaign is going to be, if you think the news media is honest and fair and totally neutral, then you ought to vote for Hillary. But if you think the news media is biased, then join me," Gingrich added.