Posted on 02/03/2012 2:54:28 PM PST by VinL
In some of his harshest words yet, Newt Gingrich explained Friday why he didn't call rival Mitt Romney after the former Massachusetts pulled a decisive Florida primary victory earlier in the week.
Pointing to Romney's post-South Carolina campaign strategy, which turned noticeably negative against the former House speaker, Gingrich said Romney didn't earn any kudos.
"They outspent me five to one to quote destroy Newt Gingrich?" Gingrich said in an interview on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." "You know, I think that doesn't deserve congratulations. I think that's reprehensible, I think it's dishonest, and I think it's shameful."
Gingrich took heat over not making the call after Romney's win on Tuesday, given that the former Massachusetts governor had congratulated Gingrich for his South Carolina win just 10 days prior.
Meanwhile, Romney's other rivals, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, both picked up the phone on Tuesday.
"The other candidates all called, but I guess Speaker Gingrich doesn't have our phone number," Romney said Wednesday on NBC's "Today."
While campaigning ahead of Nevada's Saturday caucuses, Gingrich has largely maintained that Romney's full-throated attack strategy in Florida would come back to haunt him, arguing that voters prefer a positive campaign.
"Pretty hard to see how somebody is going to negatively carpet-bomb their way to the nomination," Gingrich said Friday on CNN. "Pretty hard to see how that nomination is going to be worth much if that's all they've got to show for themselves."
The candidate said he had no regrets over not making the traditional phone call.
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
One is just as bad as the other.
I have no problem with Newt not calling Mitt. What would he say? “Congratulations on destroying me personally in this primary?”
However, I think that Newt has to develop a thicker skin and appear more magnanimous.
There is no law in place says that he ( or the others) had to call Romney.
If he had caved in to call him, he would made his positions that Romney crucified in untruthful ads as irrelevant.
In before the Romnoids tell Newt to stick to the issues.
New tagline.
RLY? Thanks for your input, troll.
Walk in someone shoes then say that.
Let’s get you on the campaign.
Romney complaining about not getting his congratulatory phone call while wearing an inappropriate smile looked pretty squirrely to me. He sounded like a jilted teenage girl.
You mean like George W. Bush, who never once responded to the lies and vitriol continually dumped on him by the Democrats and the media? What did that get him, besides approval ratings in the toilet? Same with McCain.
Nuts to that. I am more impressed with Newt because he is willing to call it like he sees it, and in this case (as in many other cases) he was right.
And by the way, his speech after his loss was very magnanimous.
Congratulate him for what—running dishonest lies night and day
I’ll speak up for Newt.
1 I didn’t know you have to call the winner after each and every primary.
2 Am I correct Romney came out very early with a victory speech, not giving Gingrich a chance to concede first? Maybe I missed it.
3 On many of these issues Romney is given an unfair break when he starts the trouble. He started the whole Bein thing by attacking Newt for working for Fannie/ Freddie. But the pundits all said that was “different”. Newt had to back off I don’t think he deserved the criticism.
Do I think Newt is making a mistake by saying Romney didn’t deserve a phone call? I think so but we’ll see.
I totally agree with you. How anyone could listen to Newt's speech and not be inspired and uplifted is beyond imagination. Meanwhile, Robme is speaking in meaningless platitudes much like 0bama.
No.... definitely not like W. There should be a balance, as there already is a preconception about “angry” Newt which is promulgated by the MSM and will probably cause damage as time goes on. I really meant this with an eye to the general election.
I saw the speech. It was great. I already voted for Newt, and I want the chance to vote for him again in November.
No. Romney is a liberal. And a lying one at that. If the only way that one can win is by lying, what have they won? The top prize as being the dirtiest player? Is that REALLY a “winner”?
I guess I didn’t realize candidates actually call each other after each Primary and congratulate the winner? seems stupid to me. Such congrats should be reserved for the end
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
