Duh! His candidacy would have been over if he hadn't.
The attack on the plan was a failed attempt at politically positing himself in the primary and he had to backtrack, something he has had to do many times.
Do you read? do you understand words placed side by side to form sentences? Reading comprehension, man. Before the MTP remark, I am not sure Newt had said anything about Ryan’s plan within the context of the campaign. and the articles were BEFORE the MTP appearance, where his response was not reported in context.
First letters, then words, then sentences. They make up a thought.