WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says he is very serious about seeking the presidency, but he's laughing off any suggestion that he could end up with the Republican Party's vice presidential nomination next year.

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The Georgia Republican tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that going for the No. 2 spot isn't on his mind, and he scoffs at any suggestion that this could happen.

Gingrich says in response to accepting the vice presidential spot on the ticket, "Can you imagine any presidential nominee who picked me to be the vice presidential candidate?" He says he doesn't think he'll be spending "long hours" worrying about it.

Gingrich also says the idea of taking the second spot on the ticket, in his words, "strikes me as implausible."