Newt Gingrich vows to stay in race until GOP convention
From the Associated Press:
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — On the weekend before the pivotal Florida primary, Newt Gingrich vowed Saturday to stay in the race for the Republican presidential nomination until the national convention this summer even if he loses Tuesday’s vote. Front-runner Mitt Romney poured on the criticism of his rival in television ads airing across the state.
Gingrich’s pledge, in a race defined by unpredictability, raised the prospect of an extended struggle inside the party as Republicans work to defeat President Barack Obama in the fall. “You just had two national polls that show me ahead,” he said. “Why don’t you ask Gov. Romney what he will do if he loses” in Florida.
The former Massachusetts governor countered a few hours later while in Panama City. “I think we are going to win here, I sure hope so,” he said.
As the two rivals made their appeals to Hispanic, Jewish and tea party voters, veterans of the armed forces and others, all known indicators pointed to a good day for Romney in the primary.
He and his allies held a 3-1 advantage in money spent on television advertising in the race’s final days. Robust early vote and absentee ballot totals followed a pre-primary turnout operation by his campaign.
Even the schedules the two men kept underscored the shape of the race — moderate for Romney, heavy for Gingrich.
Campaigning like a front-runner, Romney made few references to Gingrich. Instead, he criticized Obama’s plans to cut the size of the armed forces. “He’s detached from reality,” the former Massachusetts governor said.
“The foreign policy of ‘pretty please’ is not working terribly well,” he added. Romney said he wants to add 100,000 troops, not cut them.
If his personal rhetoric was directed Obama’s way, the television commercials were trained on Gingrich, whose victory in last Saturday’s South Carolina primary upended the race for the nomination. A new ad released as the weekend began is devoted to the day in 1997 when Gingrich received an ethics reprimand from the House while serving as speaker and was ordered to pay a $300,000 fine.
Nearly the entire 30-second ad consists of NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw’s nationally broadcast description of the events on the evening news. “By an overwhelming vote, they found him guilty of ethics violations; they charged him a very large financial penalty, and they raised — several of them — raised serious questions about his future effectiveness,” Brokaw said that night, and now again on televisions across Florida.
Both NBC and the former newsman registered objections. The network called on the campaign to stop using the footage and Brokaw said in a statement, “I do not want my role as a journalist compromised for political gain by any campaign.”
A Romney adviser, Eric Fehrnstrom, said the campaign wasn’t likely to stop running the ad. “We believe it falls within fair use,” he said. “We didn’t take the entire broadcast; we just took the first 30 seconds.”
Whatever its impact, the ad represented part of a barrage that Gingrich could not match.A second Romney ad said Gingrich had “cashed in” as a Washington insider while the housing crisis was hitting Florida particularly hard.
Figures made available to The Associated Press showed Romney was spending $2.8 million to air television commercials in the final week of the Florida campaign. In addition, a group supporting him, Restore Our Future, was spending $4 million more, for a combined total of $6.8 million.
By contrast, Gingrich was spending about $700,000, and Winning Our Future, a group backing him, an additional $1.5 million. That was about one-third the amount for the pro-Romney tandem.
Officials said the total of absentee and early vote cast approached 500,000, about 200,000 of them before Gingrich won in South Carolina last weekend.
Gingrich seemed in good humor during the day, despite the obstacles in his way. He joked with reporters that they had missed an example of his grandiosity — a charge that one rival, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, had used in a recent debate — when they didn’t see him hold a golf trophy on display at the PGA Library.
Gingrich also turned aside one opportunity to criticize Romney, answering a question by saying, ‘I want to talk about defeating Obama.”
But his tone seemed to change after he said he wasn’t happy with his performances in a pair of debates during the week, and was asked to explain.
“You cannot debate somebody who is dishonest. You just can’t,” he said, referring to Romney.
Referring to one answer the former Massachusetts governor had given, Gingrich said it was not true that Romney had always voted for a Republican when one was on the ballot.
“That in fact he could have voted for George H.W. Bush or Pat Buchanan the same day and he chose the Democratic primary, he voted Paul Tsongas, the most liberal candidate. The same year he gave money to three Democrats for Congress,” he added, referring to the 1992 campaign.
“Now there’s no practical way in a civil debate to deal with somebody who is that willing to say something that is just totally dishonest.”
Romney poked fun at Gingrich’s debate performances.
“This last one Speaker Gingrich said he didn’t do so well because the audience was so loud. The one
before he said he didn’t do so well because the audience was too quiet. This is like Goldilocks, you know, you’ve got to have it just right.“When I debate the president, I’m not going to worry about the audience, I’m going to make sure that we take down Barack Obama and take back the White House.”
The two other contenders, Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, have conceded Florida and did not campaign in the state during the day.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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82 comments Add your comment
Hot Dog
January 29th, 2012
1:12 pm
OMG, Betty…..
January 29th, 2012
9:12 am
It is going to take some one that knows his way around Washington Politics to turn this situation around. Newt is that person and he is not afraid to stick his neck out. He was cleared of all charges against him when he was Speaker so why do you continue to declare him guilty? I, a Senior Citizen, will work for Newt to become President and I like Herman. (Have you forgotten, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”?)
*******************************************************************************************************************
That’s the problem with NEWT THE LIAR, ADULTERER AND ALL AROUND LOSER! HE’S BEEN STICKING HIS P****R OUT TOO MANY TIMES. Of course he knows his way around Washington. Where do you think Calista, (AKA Tramp Stamp #3) came from? Just because he WAS found, as you SAID, NOT GUILTY of ethics charges, does not mean he was NOT GUILTY! You stated, You are a SENIOR CITIZEN…I really feel sorry for you. You have lived ALL THESE YEARS and the words HONEST and INTEGRITY has no meaning to you or your life. AS FAR AS REV. HERMAN “PIMP DADDY CAIN”, BIRDS OF A FEATHER SEEM TO FLOCK TOGETHER. IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE FORGIVEN, YOU MUST REPENT!
Mark 1:15
King James Version (KJV)
15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Newt the LIAR, IS NO WHERE NEAR REPENTING OF HIS LIES AND ADULTERY let alone ETHICS. If you can support someone like REV. HERMAN “PIMP DADDY CAIN” AND NEWT, ” THE LYING, SERIAL ADULTERER, let me suggest THAT you keep your granddaughters, IF YOU HAVE SOME, in hiding. There’s a great possibility they could become Tramp Stamp #4 and sexually harassed by Rev. “PIMP DADDY” CAIN..(especially if they are CAUCASIAN)!
SO SPEAKS HOT DOG!
Ga Values...Ron Paul for Peace & Prosperity
January 29th, 2012
1:30 pm
Newt been on TV saying “You cannot debate somebody who is dishonest. You just can’t.” Newt is talking about his failures in the last two debates against Romney, but it raises a bigger question. Well Newt, if you cannot debate someone who’s dishonest then what were you thinking in challenging Obama to debates? I mean, if your strategy to defeat Obama by beating him in debates relies on Obama being honest then what the hell were you thinking? The next question is, when are you going to do us all a favor and get out of the race?
double
January 29th, 2012
1:34 pm
Yeah and if you have any young heifers calves keep them in the barn.Go and sin no more….
Frederick Douglass
January 29th, 2012
1:42 pm
Hot Dog
Kinda hard on Miss Betty aint ya? She’s just trying to get her “country back”, and she doesn’t care who does the taking, or what kind of morals, or lack thereof, that they possess, as long as they’re free, white, and republican…….oh yeah, they need to have a regular sounding name.
Jack
January 29th, 2012
2:09 pm
That ole Newt is a hoot! In 2010 he was a very prominent backer of the republican “establishment” candidates in the primaries. Remember the special Congressional election in New York?
Now ole Newt and that lady who was governor of Alaska for a few months before she quit to make some money are “hand-in-hand” rebels – out to bring down the Republican “establishment”!!!
I am a proud “establishment” pro-business Republican and we are on the verge of taking back our political party from the “flavor of the day” rebels. We are more interested in electing a pro-business successful business leader than making some sort of “purity of thought” statement that will only serve to re-elect the President. These so-called “rebels” can get on board and help elect Governor Romney or they can pout and sit on their hands this November and re-elect the President.
double
January 29th, 2012
2:27 pm
We don’t need no Santa Anna names.Or being successful at others expense.
Out by the Pond
January 29th, 2012
2:36 pm
rbd ~ Your AA fiends did move to Georgia, they moved to Atlanta. Big difference.
double
January 29th, 2012
2:43 pm
Now Newt told to stop using song”how do you like me now”"darn momma said be days like that”.
DAN
January 29th, 2012
2:46 pm
IF ROMNEY WINS THE NOMATION THAT WILL GIVE OBAMA 4 MORE YEARS AS A PRESIDENT ROMNEY HAS NOT IT
MrLiberty
January 29th, 2012
2:54 pm
The establishment and status quo are already well-represented in the race with Romney and to a significant degree by Santorum. There really is no need for Newt to stay. This has always been just a two man race – Ron Paul and everyone who isn’t Ron Paul. Looks like the anti-Ron Paul will be Romney. Whatever. When the republicans are finally serious about smaller government, sound money, freedom, liberty, and winning the white house they will come to Ron Paul’s side and stop wasting time on candidates like Romney they absolutely hate but think they need in order to get rid of Obama. Ron Paul is drawing huge support from Democrats and Independents who are tired of war, tired of the destruction of civil liberties and every other horrible Bush policy that Obama promised to end but has continued. Romney is just a white Obama as far as policies go. Nothing will change under him and that is why the establishment supports him.
Ron Paul 2012.
Centrist
January 29th, 2012
3:24 pm
Look before I leap … posted “I agree that Romney’s campaign message offers significant differences to Obama, but his actual record as governor of MA, not so much and that is what the Democrats will come after him with.”
Romney had a Democrat legislature in a liberal state. He could either get nothing done, or compromise. He was a statesman and got some moderate changes even though he obviously wanted more conservative legislation. Obama will certainly use Gingrich and Santorum’s words painting Romney, but it will be very obvious to voters that there will be a stark choice between liberal Obama and moderate Romney.
Many independents and centrists will not fear a second Obama term – his liberal policies will be gridlocked by at least a Republican House. That alone may hold down election turnout. Obama will either have to be a statesman like Romney was as governor and compromise, or little legislative initiatives will pass. He will become a lame duck very quickly.
Obama will likely get to nominate more than one more Supreme Court member, though, which will have a very lasting effect. That will be the biggest reason for me to vote for Romney if he is the nominee – to save our Constitution from being ripped further into shreds.
double
January 29th, 2012
3:32 pm
I thought you proposed doing away with the outdated constitution.Could have you mixed up with TD.
Hot Dog
January 29th, 2012
3:41 pm
To my hero, Frederick Douglass
January 29th, 2012
1:42 pm
Not a all. It just goes to show you that Betty and her ilk is part of the same motivation… Anyone or anything but President Obama. That includes LYING, ADULTERER and NO ETHICS. And you wonder why her kind HATE THE PRESIDENT SO!
missmollie
January 29th, 2012
4:16 pm
Romney had a 11 point lead on one poll and a 15 point lead on another. Newt will stay in the race until it thunders and (probably) so will Paul who has moved on to Maine. Paul is a RINO and too old. He may be keeping the Paul name before the voters with the hope for his son who was in the middle of a mess at one of the airports causing quite a stir. Santorum has gone home and has a sick child in the hospital. It is doubtful whether he will return/or not for the voting on Tuesday.
satch
January 29th, 2012
6:44 pm
I have many AA friends who say they moved to GA because there is more opportunties for them here than any other state. So how is it that we are so racist if they want to move here…..black folks need to get real amazon hired 4,800 folks to work in downtown seattle this year.boeing is hiring in droves in seattle and south carolina. the name of the game is to get educated and get paid instead of trying to live in the trendy place. all those blacks moving to atlanta with little or no skills are fooling themselves
yuzeyurbrane
January 29th, 2012
7:10 pm
Why has there been so little discussion of 2 episodes of extreme depression suffered by Newt? Or the history of mental illness in his family? I understand this is extremely sensitive but he is running for POTUS for goodness sake. Does Tom Eagleton mean anything to anybody? I don’t know the answers but there should be a full opening of all medical records for all the candidates so people will know whether there is something we should worry about.
Going Right
January 29th, 2012
7:49 pm
*Attack Dog (1/29, 6.46a); You wouldn’t know a “Dixiecrat” if one bit you in the a$$, you idiot!
*Jumping Jack Flash (1/29, 9.32p); If Betty does join, be sure to be one of the first to hold out your hand and welcome her in.
*Catlady (1/29, 10.20p); NO, Catwommon, ’tis thine OWN HAND sticking (out of Newt’s___).
*Snoqualmiefalls (1/29, 12.33p); YES YOU WOULD! that is, resort to underhanded and unprincipled tactics! After all, Socialist, you are a DIMOCRAT!
Going Right
January 29th, 2012
7:59 pm
Can’t we get away from Newt’s dalliances with wymmyn and talk about that choir boy, Bill Clinton? Of course, three marriages and infidelity can’t compare with scr-wing half the wymmyn in Arkansas and, Oh yes,, I guess Newt thought it a bit much to attempt to get a BJ in one of his improprities. Gosh, that Clinton!…as pure as driven snow1 A real man to look up to! You socialists are absolutely right: Newt is not uncouth enough to be the POTUS.
honested
January 29th, 2012
8:08 pm
going right (which is really wrong),
Ok lets get beyond what Nut can’t keep in his pant.
Let’s talk about anything he has really done that is really an accomplishment and wasn’t really done by somebody else.
I’m waiting.
honested
January 29th, 2012
8:15 pm
Going Wrong,
Still waiting.
double
January 29th, 2012
8:27 pm
Well you can’t blame it all on Newt.Has he forced anyone?According to polls the women are voting for Mitt.Are they jealous,envious,or think he’s over the hill?
double
January 29th, 2012
8:31 pm
Honested. according to td he(newt)balanced the budget 4yrs.Even after he wsa gone the last two.yrs.
td
January 29th, 2012
8:31 pm
honested
January 29th, 2012
8:08 pm
You have to be kidding. Newt took his dream of having a the first Republican controlled House of Reps in more then 50 years and almost by himself made his vision happen. Non of the establishment believed he could do it. He worked tirelessly to raise money, recruit viable candidates, turn an off year election into a national election with the “Contract with America” message and campaignd all over the country.
td
January 29th, 2012
8:46 pm
I hope and pray everyday that whoever the Republican nominee is will offer this man the VP job.
Allen West Tells Liberal Leaders To “Get The Hell Out Of The USA”
“Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else. You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America,” Rep. Allen West (R-FL) said at the Palm Beach County Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner. West represents the district in the U.S. Congress.
double
January 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
Lead by example.
Going Right
January 29th, 2012
9:48 pm
honested 8.08p, etc.
Why should I waste time trying to get a brain-dead socialist to read Newt’s accomplishments? Besides, I had to get back on line to do some overseas trading so I can actually make money and never have to depend on the Gummint to offer me another tit to nourish myself with. A nanny state I don’t need, never did and never will…not some I think do that if I read these blogs correctly. Nothing beats good, hard work and having an accomplishment or two…or, have you ever experienced that? Rather, do you even know what I’m talking about? Thought so. Go back to your Marvel Comics.
jumping jack flash
January 29th, 2012
10:15 pm
LUTZ, Fla. — Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich called Sunday for a commission to study the ethical issues relating to in vitro fertilization clinics, where infertile women receive treatment to get pregnant and large numbers of embryos are created. Associated Press
This will be the end of Skywalker…
Frederick Douglass
January 29th, 2012
10:15 pm
td @ 8:46
Allen West is a classic “Saber Rattler”, it’s the want to be tough guys like West that has us embroiled in a costly senseless war in Iraq right now. As you right wingers are fond of saying, “we can’t afford” Allen West being in a position to break the bank with his bombastic threats. I predict that within a decade West will be a minor footnote in the annals of your party. West’s only popular right now as a counter to Obama, a slightly more intelligent facsimilie of Herman Cain, the GOP will drop them both very soon.
jumping jack flash
January 29th, 2012
10:19 pm
LUTZ, Fla. — Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich called Sunday for a commission to study the ethical issues relating to in vitro fertilization clinics, where infertile women receive treatment to get pregnant and large numbers of embryos are created. Associated Press
Skywalker just sealed the deal. He won’t last out the week…
Out With The Idiots
January 29th, 2012
10:43 pm
Cain backing Newt…they’ll be on “Wife Swap” next. Too funny. What fodder the Rs are giving the comedians!
honested
January 29th, 2012
11:33 pm
Going wrong and tiny dog,
First, so Nut had a dream of a ‘repugnican Congress’, so what. He wrecked that and resigned in disgrace. Despite the wrong wing radio ‘adjustments’ he resigned in disgrace from ETHICS VIOLATIONS.
As to the childish, ‘marvel comics’ nitwit comment, in your dreams. I have been a proud socialist small business person for nearly 30 years. One of the main obstructions to enhanced service to my customers and my community have been loud mouthed posers with irrational concepts for governance. Individuals such as nut getrich.
honested
January 29th, 2012
11:37 pm
Also, after nut’s famous ‘con act on Americans’ collapsed, tell us all how he was a gentleman and accepted responsibility for his misguided overreach? Oh yeah, he just blamed ‘liberals’ and the ‘media’.
Has a certain ring to it doesn’t it?
And for Allen West, I think wrong wing jerks should line up to leave first. That should put him at the front of the line. What was the infraction he was facing Court Martial for?