Newt Gingrich vs. Mitt Romney: S.C. Primary Winner Attacks Former Mass. Governor

WASHINGTON -- Newt Gingrich says his hardline conservative views and sharp debate skills will be needed by Republicans to take back the White House.

The former House speaker is dismissing rival Mitt Romney as a moderate whose record on health care and other issues are too close to President Barack Obama's to invigorate GOP voters.

Coming off a big victory in Saturday's South Carolina primary, Gingrich said he can go "toe to toe with President Obama on big things."

Gingrich said his views on lower taxes, less government regulation and foreign policy put him in stark contrast to Obama and that the dynamics of a Gingrich-Obama fight are much more alluring to voters.

Gingrich told CNN's "State of the Union" that he represents "the largest amount of change of any candidate."

Gingrich also struck back at Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), for saying that his charge that President Barack Obama is a "food stamp president" has racist connotations. "I think it's unfortunate that liberal leaders, whatever their ethnic background, can't have an honest debate about policies that fail...Do you want a paycheck president, in which case, my years in office, first with Reagan, and then as speaker, combine 27 million jobs created for the American people in those two periods. A pretty good test. Or do you want a food stamp president?"

On CBS' "Face The Nation," Gingrich continued his attacks on Romney. "You end up with a guy who is a very good salesman, who very much wants to sell, but has a very weak product," he said, according to Politico. "I think he's been dancing on eggs, trying..to find a version of Romney that would work."

"It was almost as though ABC was an arm of the Romney campaign, deliberately trying to set the stage and rig the game," said Gingrich, referring to the network's interview with his ex-wife Marianne, who accused the former House speaker of wanting an "open marriage" in a recent interview with ABC News' Brian Ross.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[l78lancer]

02:34 AM on 01/24/2012

Newt brags about his debating skills, but while they are good for obfuscating, painting misleading pictures and distorting facts, they don't do much to help him when it comes to truthful, honest, factual, direct and addressing issues head on. While he is adept at stirring up hate and playing on fears, he has no plans or ideas for addressing all of the citizens of the United States, only that small segment who support him.

So it's easy to see why the elites of his party neither trust nor support him. Because of his seamy, riotous, chaotic past the last thing his party will do is reward him with the presidency. Newt really doesn't need to concern himself with Obama and the democrats because he won't get that chance to debate. In the final analysis, his own party will work to make sure that he never wins.

[gtt]

10:22 AM on 01/23/2012

Wow. Newt's already ahead in Fla by 9 points and Gov. Romney is due to release his tax filings on Tuesday. This does not look like it will be a very good week for Romney.

My wife keeps reminding me to be careful what you wish for, nevertheless, I wish for a knock out soon which sends Romney home to ... CA, MI, MA, NH where ever that might be.

[WiltonDiary]

04:57 AM on 01/23/2012

It is still hard to imagine a path to the nomination for Mr. Gingrich, let alone to the White House.

There is still time for Republicans in other states to show that South Carolina was an aberration rather than a bellwether.

[jordoom]

04:27 AM on 01/23/2012

"Do you want a paycheck president?", Newt asks. Well, Newt, that all depends on who is getting the paycheck. Because, if Gingrich gets into office the question will most certainly change to "Do you want a paycheck, President?" And it will be Big Business doing the asking. Paycheck President. Hmph! What's next? The Credit Card Congressman? The Salary Senator? The Greenbacks Governor? Hey, here's a novelty! How about an honest politician? Anybody know where we can find one of them?

[dwillisno1]

12:47 AM on 01/23/2012

Only Newt and the teapers could make the word Moderate a negative.

[blknightowl]

12:12 AM on 01/23/2012

The facts are: The GOP candidates are an insult to the intelligence and decency of the American people.

No one wants to time travel back into the 1940's and yet, with the exception of taxes, that is exactly what they are all proposing.

[l78lancer]

02:35 AM on 01/24/2012

Even with their tax policy.

[kevhar12]

11:23 PM on 01/22/2012

Newt`s talking points consists of a noun, a verb and Ronald Reagan.

[Salty too]

10:54 PM on 01/22/2012

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dq6c_dinY3fM%26feature%3Dshare&h=UAQEzLN9kAQFrweC1AsAxt6X6dsGMmqCBWxGknG7D2V0mYw

Left wing bias news is real.

[johnblack53]

11:25 PM on 01/22/2012

lol. Do you not know sliced and diced video when you see it?

[DeeFromTheD]

12:22 AM on 01/23/2012

http://newsone.com/nation/casey-gane-mccalla/fact-check-shows-gingrichs-obama-food-stamp-claim-was-false/

[YOKEL13]

10:47 PM on 01/22/2012

Hit 'em again, Newt! Whack him back, Mitt! Don't pull any punches!

[NYC619]

09:31 PM on 01/22/2012

One of these days, Grinchy like Little Dicky Sanctimonious will start whining about "blah" people instead of black people.

[PhDcommonsense]

09:09 PM on 01/22/2012

If Newt becomes the Nominee then the Country should prepare itself for one of the most NASTIEST Presidential Race in a long time, and Newt will make sure it becomes that way.

It appears this is what the South Carolina Republicans want someone who can be Racist, NO Character and Despicable. South Carolina, just showed they are still fighting the Civil War and continue to Wrap themselves in the Confederate Flag and all that goes with it.

Newt is one of the worst Candidates the Republicans have ever come up with his DIVISIVNESS in the Country in the 21st Century.

If this is what the Republican Party wants in a Nominee and President, look for the people to take to the streets like we did in the 50s and 60s. We are not going back.

[YOKEL13]

10:50 PM on 01/22/2012

I'm tempted to say, "call their bluff! Expel South Carolina from the Union!" Can you imagine the whining?

[Bigdaddy Milkman]

11:14 PM on 01/22/2012

I tend to agree. Let them try and survive on their own. Watch how fast they come crawling back, or collapse.

[PhDcommonsense]

08:28 PM on 01/23/2012

One fact to pass along about South Carolina. Did you know they get back $1.35 for every dollar the send the Federal Government. Yet they rail against big Government with lies by the Republicans, who should just leave Government period they are NOT GORVERING, JUST TAKING RIGHTS!.

California gets something on the order of .70 or less on every dollar they send to the Federal Government.

I say let them and Texas Secede. More money for the rest of the Country.

[glomtt]

09:06 PM on 01/22/2012

Newt and Mittens are going to invalidate each other when this is over. Santorum is already invalid!

[NYC619]

09:32 PM on 01/22/2012

If Little Dicky Sanctimonious is "invalid," Grinchy will just divorce him.

[glomtt]

09:58 PM on 01/22/2012

Yes Indeed!

[l78lancer]

02:58 AM on 01/24/2012

They will have done that LONG before it's over.

[PhDcommonsense]

09:01 PM on 01/22/2012

We will be in for one of the NASTIEST Presidential Fight in a Century. Newt will make it that way. He really thinks his NASTINESS and LACK OF CHARACTER is a winning issue for him, because the the people in South Carolina loved it.

South Carolina is still fighting the Civil War and the people seem to wrap themselves in the Confederate Flag STILL.

Newt is one of the most Despicable Candidates to come along in a long time and if this is what the Country wants or needs, then folks prepare yourself for people taking to the Streets to fight the 50s and the 60s over again.

[l78lancer]

03:00 AM on 01/24/2012

He is reminiscent of the people standing in the wings watching when George Wallace and Bull Connor turned the dogs and fire hoses loose.

[eternalscorpio1]

08:20 PM on 01/22/2012

Ah good ole Newt doubling down on the racism, Newt gingrich is George Wallace for the 21st century.........

[YOKEL13]

10:52 PM on 01/22/2012

At least Wallace was an HONEST panderer.

[l78lancer]

03:12 AM on 01/24/2012

Newt's hero is Barry Goldwater, and he's is cut from the same cloth as Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond.

[knott wrench]

06:33 PM on 01/22/2012

Newton the "Loose Canon on the Deck of a Ship", is in the end a Pathological Liar, Hypocrite and Racist.

He won in South Carolina because he appealed to the "Old South". can't do anything in Virginia as he is not on the ballot.

"Flavor of the Month".

[Bigdaddy Milkman]

11:16 PM on 01/22/2012

Only as long as it's "vanilla".

[knott wrench]

07:54 PM on 01/24/2012

True.