The Hill News

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) set high expectations for congressional Republicans in 2012, projecting gains that would surpass even the GOP's 2010 victories.

Gingrich, a likely Republican candidate for president, predicted that Republicans would build on their majority in the House and pick up 12 seats in the Senate, which would hand the GOP a majority in that chamber, too.

"I think 2012 will be a bigger victory for Republicans than 2010," Gingrich said on CNBC. "I think we'll pick up a dozen Senate seats, and 30 to 40 House seats."

Gingrich has been given in the past to making outrageous predictions about Republicans' political fortunes. He predicted in January of 2010 that as many as 150 Democratic seats were in play; in reality, Republicans picked up 63 seats last November.