Gingrich Opens Campaign HQ, in the Race by May 13th

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is greeted to a standing ovation as he walks into the Historic Courthouse, Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Lawrenceville, Ga. Gingrich spoke during the GOP district convention at the courthouse. (AP Photo/Gwinnett Daily Post, Jonathan Phillips)

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has opened a campaign headquarters in Atlanta ahead of his expected entry into the presidential race next week.

Gingrich will speak at the Georgia Republican Party's convention next Friday and his spokesman Rick Tyler tells FOX News the former Georgia representative "will be a presidential candidate" by that time.

Tyler says Gingrich has also rented out office space two floors above the state's party headquarters in the Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead.

Gingrich has been testing the waters and raising money for months, but extracting himself from his extensive and lucrative business dealings proved to be a time consuming process.

Once Gingrich fills out his Federal Election Commission paperwork he will join a group of official presidential hopefuls that include former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and businessman Herman Cain.