Today on Meet the Press, David Gregory spoke to Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD), seen as many as a likely contender for the presidency in the not so distant future, and Newt Gingrich. Asked what advice he would give O’Malley on becoming president, Gingrich was quite blunt:

GREGORY: Newt Gingrich, what advice do you give Gov. O’Malley about being president

GINGRICH: Raise a lot of money.

[Laughs]

GREGORY: That’s what it takes.

Watch it:

Gingrich watched his lead in the polls disappear as Mitt Romney’s campaign outspent him on campaign ads in every primary state. A recent estimate found that Romney and his Super PAC spent about $200,000 per delegate — or $30 per vote — to wrap up the Republican nomination this year.

Gingrich later notes that all American presidential contests have been “tough and brutal” in some way. But the billions needed to even compete in this day and age is unprecedented.