(RALEIGH) -- Former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has announced his candidacy for the Republican Presidential nomination. The question is, does he have a chance? N.C. State University Political Science Professor Andy Taylor says yes.

"He has tremendously deep roots within the Republican Party across the country having led House Republicans to a majority for the first time in 40 years in the 1994 election," said Taylor.

But the same thing that could be a positive for Gingrich in the race for the Republican nomination could ultimately be a negative. "There may be Republicans out there looking for kind of a fresh face and a new voice and obviously Gingrich has been around for a very long time," added Taylor.