WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will receive Secret Service protection starting Wednesday.

Two people with knowledge of the security plan confirmed the detail assignment to The Associated Press. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.

The former House speaker is the third GOP hopeful to get a Secret Service detail. Mitt Romney has had Secret Service protection since Feb. 1, and Rick Santorum received Secret Service protection last week.

Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate without a Secret Service detail.

GALLERY: NEWT GINGRICH CAMPAIGN JOURNEY

Gingrich requested Secret Service protection last month. He was scheduled to campaign Wednesday in Alabama.

Gingrich easily won his home state of Georgia in Tuesday’s primary elections.

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