Mitt Romney Hits Newt Gingrich: 'Old Dog, Newt Tricks'

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Mitt Romney has so far left the bare-knuckle TV attack ads to the super PAC supporting his candidacy, as his campaign has kept its official advertising positive and patriotic.

But it hasn't been all apple pie and American flags for the former Massachusetts governor. Earlier this month, the Romney campaign sent mailers to Iowa voters criticizing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and on Friday, a new mailer surfaced that hits Gingrich again.

The mailer is a full-color recreation of the front page of Roll Call from Nov. 9, 1998, when Gingrich announced he would step down from the speakership and leave the House.

"Gingrich Quits," the headline blares. The subhead reads, in part, "Speaker to Leave Congress," and continues, "Inability to Lead." The Romney campaign has superimposed a magnifying glass over the final three words.

At the bottom of the mailer, in large white letters, it says, "Old Dog, Newt Tricks." The "t" in "Newt" is in red.

The back of the mailer reads, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." It shows news articles about ethics violations against Gingrich, most of which were dismissed, and labels him a "super consultant," a "federal mandate supporter," and an "unreliable conservative."

See the mailer below: