After Newt Gingrich renewed his call to run a “positive campaign,” Mitt Romney is putting that pledge to the test — unleashing a new ad that questions Gingrich’s past cooperation with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on climate change and knocking his understanding of the economy.
The new round of criticism from the former Massachusetts governor comes ahead of a Fox News debate Thursday where the Republican frontrunner is sure to face criticism from all sides, on a record and leadership style that spans decades and is increasingly coming under the microscope.
The former House speaker, who has built a stronger lead in the GOP presidential race than any candidate to date, is trying to stay the course of running a positive operation. He instructed his staff to take the high road in a letter this week, urging them to “avoid initiating attacks on other Republican candidates.” Moving to practice what he preached, the campaign then fired its Iowa political director after learning he had called Mormonism — the religion to which two GOP candidates, including Mitt Romney, subscribe — a “cult.”
But as Gingrich tries to maintain a pro-Republican, anti-President Obama message, the candidate he replaced at the front of the polls is turning more aggressive. He’s knocking Gingrich as the kind of D.C. insider incapable of shaking up the economy, while digging up classic clips that Gingrich would rather see archived than aired.
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
1. Romney would be better off arguing ideology, and leaving personal attacks to the media.
2. Accusing Gingrich of being a moderate will make it easier for him to be elected, and electability is always good in a primary.
3. Digging up old news clips reminds people of Gingrich’s experience in the second highest (in fact) position in the country – not a good idea since Romney’s public career consists of one term as a governor of a middle-sized states
That picture of Romney tells all. He is looking increasingly beleaguered.
My prediction is that the wire will come to the two “Contractors” – Speaker Gingrich and Senator Santorum.