Newt Gingrich Slams Republican Rivals For Backing Out Of CNN Debate

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Newt Gingrich slammed his Republican rivals Friday for refusing to appear in a nationally televised debate from his home state of Georgia, a state the former House speaker has made central to his strategy of getting his struggling presidential bid back on track.

Gingrich made his remarks at a rally in the congressional district he represented for 20 years, speaking to a few hundred supporters. He planned several campaign stops across Georgia on Saturday with Herman Cain, a fellow Georgian and former contender for the GOP nomination who has since endorsed Gingrich.

CNN was forced to cancel the debate, scheduled to take place in Atlanta on March 1, after Mitt Romney declined to participate. Rick Santorum quickly followed suit.

The cancellation was a blow to Gingrich, who is banking on a strong showing on Super Tuesday, March 6, in Georgia, Ohio and eight other states holding contests that day.

"The average Georgian is going to say, the average Ohioan is going to say, `Let me get this straight. They won't come here to debate but they want my vote?'" Gingrich said, adding, "Anybody who's afraid of debating Newt Gingrich isn't going to be in very good shape to debate Barack Obama."

Gingrich, whose sole win came in South Carolina's primary Jan. 21, conceded winning Georgia was "crucial" to sustaining his presidential bid. His candidacy has struggled since Romney soundly beat him in Florida Jan. 31 and Santorum won contests in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri on Feb. 7.

Gingrich also criticized ads run by a super PAC supporting Romney's candidacy.

The ads by Restore Our Future, which is run by former Romney advisers, have been harshly critical of Gingrich and the millions the group spent on the ads contributed to his defeat in Florida and Iowa. Restore Our Future is currently running ads in Michigan and Arizona, which hold primaries Feb. 28, as well as several Super Tuesday states.

"You can't hide behind millions of dollars in negative ads and think you're going to win the presidency," Gingrich said. "I think there is a declining impact of totally false ads, and I think you're going to see as Romney applies the same technique at Santorum, a general revulsion against this kind of purely negative campaigning."

Gingrich's campaign website posted a letter Friday from attorney Patrick Milsaps to Georgia television stations warning of potential liability if they aired Restore Our Future ads claiming Gingrich had favored legislation endorsing China's one-child policy. The group has run ads in several states suggesting Gingrich partnered with Democrat Nancy Pelosi to support legislation favoring such a policy, which has been discredited by several independent political fact checking organizations.

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Comments

[Christopher Zimny]

02:17 PM on 02/19/2012

I would've liked to have seen a one on one debate between Paul and Gingrich. Would have made for a good show.

[Kiffanik]

10:55 AM on 02/19/2012

Newt you lost the last 2 debates and honestly, even the ones you "won" did you little good beyond South Carolina. You're not going to be POTUS, but hang out til the convention because you make us laugh

[PrunellaC]

08:32 AM on 02/19/2012

Newt Gingrich: the Charlie Sheen of politics.

[Steelerfanman]

05:03 AM on 02/19/2012

Isn't it about time to update your wife Newt? Just please give up politics and focus on that.

[Craig Walker]

03:02 AM on 02/19/2012

The Hannibel Lector of politics is upset becasue the rest of the psych ward doesnt want to debate him about sanity.

[Pediego]

02:47 AM on 02/19/2012

How about just televising Newt's opposing positions/rants etc and let him debate if not debase himself. Come to think of it Mitt and Rick could do the same i.e. debate/debase themselves.

[conlawpara]

02:43 AM on 02/19/2012

God Newt!!! Just shut up!

[l78lancer]

02:39 AM on 02/19/2012

So Newt, why do you think that anyone is obligated to play by your rules?

You are screwed.

[FL TallMan]

01:31 AM on 02/19/2012

Lots has been said about Gingrich and his myriad problems; That Gingrich is pathologically narcissistic, psychopathic, and that he is full of hubris, problems that indicate serious mental illness. That is what keeps this morally bankrupt, dishonorable and already defeated man from saving himself further embarrassment and going home.

[MosesDidItBest]

09:30 PM on 02/18/2012

Newt in his never ending quest for the Holy Grail of GOP politics, higher speaking fees.

[Whats Inaname]

09:04 PM on 02/18/2012

You tell them Newt. Not only did they back out on you they denied me my added comedy for not only that night but also the nights afterwards where Jon Stewart would have surely had something funny to say about the GOP clown car with all of you in it. He has this great segment "Indecision 2012" that fits the current GOP state of affairs.

Re/TeapubliCANT's can't make up their mind on one of you. First it was Palin when people thought she would run. Then Bachmann when Palin decided not to run she didn't last long since she put her foot in her mouth one to many times. Next, Perry when he joined the race, then after Perry's gaffes along comes Mr. 9-9-9 himself who also happens to like some "vanilla" ice cream not just the "black hazelnut" if anyone noticed the women he was involved with. Then it was your turn despite the allegations from your second wife stating you wanted an "open" marriage - all I can say is Callista better go to Catholic Church every chance she gets and pray she doesn't get sick. Now it's Santorums turn, don't think Paul will ever get a chance, and then their is Mittens himself the "unemployed" candidate who raked in millions from a Swiss account and the Cayman ones too along with what he has here in the U.S. and pays 13.9% in taxes.

Newt, it's called Karma.

KARMA: "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND".

[cpsummer2457]

08:20 PM on 02/18/2012

Hey Newt, did you ever have one of those days when nothing is going your way, well it seems you're have a month of those days. In case you didn't know it, they are ganging up on you, it's only fair you did it to Perry and the others now it's your turn, then when they are done with you they focus on each other.

[wme98]

08:14 PM on 02/18/2012

If Romney and Santorum are afraid to debate the Newtster what is going to happen to them when they debate Obama? Obama will destroy either of them.

[Suzy 24]

08:51 PM on 02/18/2012

They could beg Gov.Rick Perry to come back,he is a great debater

[l78lancer]

02:46 AM on 02/19/2012

It's more like everyone is sick of wasting their time and no one is interested in helping Newt.

[wme98]

08:59 PM on 02/19/2012

What help does Newt need? He has his mistress to assist with everything.

[john rajah]

07:45 PM on 02/18/2012

Arrest judges.
Sue TV stations.
Re-write history,
Void marriages

The Newt way

[Suzy 24]

08:58 PM on 02/18/2012

I am going to fan you because,you are telling the truth.Why do u call me Lord and don't do
what I say.So many politicians use the Lord just to get votes.

[duger]

07:36 PM on 02/18/2012

As has been said many times before, "Newt is a stupid man's idea of what a smart man sounds like."