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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - An aggressive Mitt Romney repeatedly challenged Republican presidential rival Newt Gingrich in a fast-paced campaign debate Thursday night, ridiculing the former House speaker's call to build costly projects in key primary states and to colonize the moon.
Romney vehemently denied Gingrich's own accusation that he anti-immigrant — more so than any other candidate. And, as charges flew back and forth, Gingrich rebutted any suggestion that he couldn't rein in surging federal spending.
"You don't just have to be cheap everywhere. You can actually have priorities to get things done," Gingrich declared, saying that as speaker of the House he had helped balance the budget while doubling spending on the National Institutes of health.
The debate was the second in four days in the run-up to next Tuesday's Florida primary. Opinion polls make the race a close one — slight advantage Romney — with two other contenders, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Texas Rep. Ron Paul far behind.
Gingrich's upset victory in the South Carolina primary last week upended the race for the nomination to oppose Democratic President Barack Obama in the fall, and Romney in particular can ill-afford a defeat on Tuesday.
While the clashes between Gingrich and Romney dominated the debate, Santorum drew applause from the audience when he called on the two front-runners to stop attacking one another and "focus on the issues."
"Can we set aside that Newt was a member of Congress ... and that Mitt Romney is a wealthy guy?" he said in a tone of exasperation.
There were some moments of levity, including when Paul, 76, was asked whether he would be willing to release his medical records. He said he was, then challenged the other three men on the debate stage to a 25-mile bike race.
He got no takers.
The first clash occurred moments after the debate opened, when Gingrich responded to a question by saying Romney was the most anti-immigrant of all four contenders on stage. "That's simply inexcusable," the former Massachusetts governor responded.
"Mr. Speaker, I'm not anti-immigrant, my father was born in Mexico," Romney declared. "I'm not anti-immigrant."
At the same time, Romney noted that Gingrich's campaign had been pressured to stop running a radio ad that called Romney anti-immigrant after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio called on Gingrich to do so.
He called on Gingrich to apologize for the commercial, but got no commitment.
About an hour later, Romney pounced when the topic turned to Gingrich's proposal for an permanent American colony on the moon — an issue of particular interest to engineers and others who live on Florida's famed Space Coast.
A career businessman before he became a politician, Romney said: "If I had a business executive come to me and say I want to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I'd say, 'You're fired.'"
The audience erupted in cheers, but Romney wasn't finished.
He said the former speaker had called for construction of a new Interstate highway in South Carolina, a new VA hospital in northern New Hampshire and widening the port of Jacksonville to accommodate the larger ships that will soon be able to transit the Panama Canal.
"This idea of going state to state and promising people what they want to hear, promising hundreds of billions of dollars to make people happy, that's what got us into trouble in the first place," Romney said.
Gingrich responded that part of campaigning is becoming familiar with local issues, adding, "The port of Jacksonville is going to have to be expanded. I think that's an important thing for a president to know." He went on to refer to completion of an Everglades project that he did not describe, then noted he had worked to expand NIH while he was speaker.
January 27, 2012 @ 7:43 am
It seems to be a no-win situation with the bickering. On the one hand, you want to see pertinent and verifiable facts presented and if one candidate or the other needs to be called out on somkething by one of the others and it would benefit the voting public to know it, then it should be done.
But finger-pointing and negative campaigning just for the entertainment value has gotten old—and is of no value. Of course, if one trounces on the other, naturally the accused is going to defend himself. It ends up being a visicious cycle—the candidates need to present the issues and what they would do about them—point out Obama’s incompetence—and, regrettably, defend themeselves against one another. We end up having to continue to endure it.
I do, however, think Romney likes the muck—it has been pointed out in previous posts that he has hired coaches to improve his performance in the debates—the key word being “performance”. I think he is becoming more and more of a performer rather than a debater. We already have one circus act in the White House—we don’t need to replace it with another one with a different label.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:52 am
Exellent post mcrank…
Also re: “point out Obama’s incompetence—and, regrettably, defend themeselves against one another. We end up having to continue to endure it.”
These guys have lost sight of the major issues, thus have lost touch with us our here who first, have to endure their theatrics, and second we are the ones who still have to endure Obama…and the fact our country is whats at risk!
Both are primadonnas, both are no longer of interest to me because they are acting like adolescent children hell bent on destroying each other as well as self destruction…
Note please…that it was Santorum who had to reprimand them…as he would his children who were becoming pains in the rear end to the attending adults…i.e. Santorum, and Ron Paul…and us out here who were inclined to turn the TV off had it not been Santorum was there with Ron.
Having said all this…what we have here is a Republican Party who has demonstrated to us as well as Obama that we have 2 key candidates who shouldn’t be allowed the keys to the insane asylum…
That leaves Santorum, who consistantly has maintained a Presidential image, along with maturity…he cerrtainly isn’t a primadonna, nor the narssisist such as Obama, Romney, and Newt.
I am now very concerned, and am writing off both of these bozzos. While my attention now goes to Santorum, I would be more comfortable if he had the challenges of other serious opponents to compete with.
Folks, somewheres out there are a couple of the best we can offer…the Governor who critiqued the SOTU message? Chris CHristie? Palin? hell, I’d even recall Michele Bachmann to the campaign.
I have to aplogize to those of you here…I supported Newt, claiming correctly he was the “junk yard dog” we need for this major task, and perhaps Romney as a second choice…
BUT YES, HE IS A JUNK YARD DOG, AND IT APPEARS THATS ALL…HE IS ALL OVER THE MAP….NEWT, THE MOON IS NOT THE ISSUE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD…!
Lets CLOSE the borders…HELP OUR BORDER STATES…demand that no candidate mess with anything relating to getting the illegal vote…if he does he loses our vote……just close the borders and reinforce the LAWS we now have…
Now, that done we can concentrate on getting that source of evil out of our Place Of Honor, and save this nation from falling like the Roman Empire…while Obama, Newt, and Romney FIDDLED!
January 27, 2012 @ 11:25 am
Amazing post, downdraft. Like you, I support Santorum in the primary. I will, however, support ABO in the general election. It is imperative that Obama not get a 2nd term when he will really go wild, making his first seem tame in comparison. As far as Gingrich being a junk yard dog, there’s nothing to stop him from being just as tenacious on behalf of our nominee, assuming it won’t be him. I hope all of the candidates bring their strengths in support of whichever becomes the nominee.
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 2:53 pm
“it has been pointed out in previous posts that he has hired coaches to improve his performance in the debates”
As far as I am concerned Romney could hire all the coaches in this country to coach him and I would not want him to win the Republican candidacy. People continue to speak of Gingrich as a moderate but that is exactly what Romney is. If I did not want Obamacare I definitely do not want Romney care or his policies. Really sick and tired of the attacks from all sides when they need to be attacking the Obama administration and Obama for their illegal activities as well as their destruction of America.
January 27, 2012 @ 3:15 pm
I’m sure we will all vote for the candidate of our choosing.
For example, I will not vote for the candidate who supports amnesty and a colony on the moon. I can’t afford either one of those.
I will vote for a candidate who supports enforcing immigration law and does NOT support amnesty.
If Newt ever gives up his futile quest to be president perhaps Santorum will rise. If he does not, then I will indeed support Romney.
January 28, 2012 @ 11:59 am
Oh, Leonidas… I so very much wish! Unfortunately, the ego that asked the other candidates get out, even though Santorum had placed ahead of Newt in both of the prior races, will not allow him to understand that his decades-long plan to become president is futile. He truly believes he is “destined” for the job. I wish people could understand that a vote for Gingrich is a vote for Romney and/or Obama. Newt is determined to be the anti-Romney candidate, leaving little room for Santorum, with much help from the media who cannot believe their good fortune in Gingrich being taken seriously by anyone. So, knocking Santorum out at best leaves us with Romney as the nominee and at worst, Obama re-elected.
http://reason.com/archives/2011/11/17/the-case-against-newt-gingrich
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 7:57 am
Last night’s debate will more than likely seal the vote for Romney in Florida. He seemed to have the majority of people in his corner especially when he walked off the stage to be interviewed. They were literally screaming his name over and over. Everyone seemed to be pretty much on game but there were no knock-out punches that was essential for Newt to win the state. All in all it was another night at the fights.
I was getting a little frustrated with all these questions from the audience as they all seemed to cover the globe in respect to their inquiries. What are you going to do for Palestine; Puerto Rico; Latinos from South and Central America, and the Hispanic community in general? Will any Hispanic have a place in your administration? Yada, Yada! Just about everyone besides the descendants of Genghis Khan, and King Shaka of the Zulu Warriors were represented.
Am I being sarcastic? You bet I am! This is America not Global/USA Inc., and I was glad to hear that not all the answers placated the questioneers. Nevertheless, I wasn’t that impressed with this debate as far as substance went, and I’m really not that interested in why their wives would make good First Ladies. When Rasmussen reports that eight percent of the Republican voters will vote for Obama if their candidate loses — hope does not abound.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:07 am
I wouldn’t worry about that 8% too much. I and several other people said repeatedly we absolutely could not vote for McCain, but we did. And consider also, other than the debates, there is not really much highlighting of Obama’s abysmal record. When the nominee is chosen, there will be ads, interviews, etc. blanketing the nation. There will likely be some who now support Obama that will either change their vote or stay home, once the issues are explained. I’m not suggesting it will be easy but I don’t think it’s a lost cause.
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 3:25 pm
Please allow me to rephrase: Since when is anything from Thinkprogress ‘generally accepted as true’ at GOPUSA? Just because most of us don’t like Romney doesn’t make it ok to mis-label something from Thinkprogress as ‘conventional wisdom.’ Clearly, you attempted to give it credibility with that phrase and omitted the source because including it would have caused most to immediately dismiss it.
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay in our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 3:56 pm
As I said before, I don’t read Thinkprogress and never have, as I have stated that my information came from Journalists which is clearly definable in my comments. Attempting to give “credibility” to what I said is your take not mine, as conventional wisdom is not a phrase that gives credibility and doesn’t confirm the authenticity of anything. Insofar as ”omitting” my source, I stated journalists who constitute a large area of people that are not associated with this “Thinkprogress” you’re talking about, so there wasn’t any need for me to state something that wasn’t true.
Definition: “A belief or set of beliefs that is widely accepted, especially one which may be questionable on close examination.”
January 27, 2012 @ 10:27 am
Of course Romney vehemently denied Gingrich’s own accusation that he is anti-immigrant. Mitt can’t deny the fact that Thursday night he stated….. One parent of his was born in Mexico an the other was born in Wales…. My question is WHY is HE RUNNING AT ALL!
January 27, 2012 @ 10:40 am
Romney is for enforcing our laws on immigration. He is anti-amnesty.
If you want the pro-amnesty candidate you have two choices, Newt Gingrich or Barack Obama.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:45 am
His wife’s father (Romney’s father-in-law) was born in Wales.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:06 am
Conventional wisdom has it that his father was an illegal immigrant born in Mexico who never became a US citizen. Many articles suggest that Romney’s family still live in Mexico and originally fled there from the US because of being Mormons and having multiple wives.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:18 am
Newsjunky, you are sinking lower and lower in your pathetic attempts to smear Romney.
What you posted is not conventional wisdom. Is is gutter gossip meant to hurt a candidate. You should be ashamed of yourself for posting that kind of attack. It is the kind of thing I am used to seeing from liberals, not from conservatives.
There is no question that Romney’s ancestors were practicing polygamy. That’s what the Mormon church did at that time. Romney is not his ancestors and the Mormon church does not practice polygamy and has not in Mitt Romney’s lifetime. Yet, you attempt to hold him accountable for things over which he had no control. You really should join the Obama boards.
Romney has been married to one woman, the same woman, for 42 years and yet here you come with your nastiness attempting to smear him with history over which he has no control.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:25 am
Nice try – but read the many articles posted on the internet. As I said correctly “conventional wisdom” does NOT mean I validated the statement but was repeating what at least a dozen or more journalists have posted on the web. The definitions of words seem to confuse you.
P.S. Accusing me of smearing Romney is really laughable considering the contents of all your posts.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:34 am
Newsjunky, I fully realize that Newt’s serial adultery and his advocacy for amnesty do not stack up well against a man who has been married to the same woman for 42 years and who is against amnesty and for closing our border and enforcing our laws.
That’s why Newt supporters are attempting to smear Romney with the history of his church since they can’t compete on the facts of the way he has lived his own life.
Having parents who lived in Mexico does not equate with supporting amnesty today. I don’t care where Romney’s parents lived. I do care that Newt Gingrich wants amnesty now.
And quoting ‘journalists’ one minute while celebrating Newt’s attacks on ‘journalists’ the next, just makes you two-faced.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:41 am
You’re grabbing at straws again, and getting ridiculous in the process. I was replying to the post above and as usual you had to jump in with the “newsjunky” headline.
Good day, Leonidas.
January 27, 2012 @ 11:49 am
Since when does anyone here quote Thinkprogress and call it ‘conventional wisdom’?? That story was debunked almost before it was fully told.
Oops… forgot my tag line:
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 12:01 pm
Thinkprogress, is not something I usually read. Conventional wisdom only means that the “story” is widely accepted whether it be true or not. Insofar as it being “old” that applies to a lot of quotes that are often repeated in many articles but aren’t always validated by the writer.
January 28, 2012 @ 8:09 am
January 14th article, two weeks ago, says CNN is not part of that widely accepted conventional wisdom. Romney’s family did not come to the US illegally.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/12/opinion/romney-hispanic-roots/index.html?eref=rss_politics&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+%28RSS%3A+Politics%29
oops again!
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 28, 2012 @ 8:23 am
Newsjunky, I don’t mean to be a snot about this. A lot of people here, and I’m one of them, will accept anything you write as being true. I just happened to have caught that failed attempt being debunked as it was reported. It was framed as ‘how desperate are they to get Romney out’? I do, however, think it’s official: You dislike Romney more than I dislike Gingrich. I don’t dispute there are a lot of good reasons to dislike Romney; this just isn’t one of them.
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 28, 2012 @ 9:12 am
Thanks for the explanation. However, I really don’t dislike Romney all that much, but I do think he lies as much as Gingrich and some of the other candidates, and yet few people seem to bring that up. I’m also well aware of all the problems with Gingrich too, but I’ve never even been able to say anything good about him without suffering the consequences which is putting it mildly. Of course, that’s okay, I’m a big girl and I know what it’s like to be a woman in a man’s world. I’ve had a lot of experience taking care of myself.
The truth of the matter is I really didn’t write that to be spiteful because I’m not spiteful, I just was responding to the post above not realizing that anyone would take it as an actual fact. To tell you the truth, lin, I consider myself a reasonable person who often compliments people on their intelligent posts etc., and I’m not on the offensive when it comes to differing opinions, as it’s impossible to have people always agree with you. Although, I am extremely defensive whenever challenged as many women are working with a lot of men. Anyway the fact that you even said you’re not trying to be a snot, is something I do appreciate.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:43 am
Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum proved last night they are no John McCain, and likie Newt finally grew some stones.
Like I said in my other comments, these Primary debates are the political boot camp that strengthens the candidate in test, and culls out the weak sisters who are too weak to cover your back in real battle as the real enemy stabs you in the back like Obama did.
WE THE PEOPLE need to assume the posture of Drill sergeant and get loudly into THEIR, our candidates faces to let them know who the real boss is and prepare them for the coming battle and political Democrat obstacle courses and traps to come. We test to strengthen, not cripple, in the primary in order to build strength to put shields of armor over the candidates weak flanks in battle, not shields of “Feel Good” amour love making which weaken their ability to fight. For everything there is a season, now is the season for battle, not feel good love making. Let them be warriors for truth which always prevails in the end anyway. Why not just skip the political pandering and political pain in between, and go straight to victory by sticking to the facts and not manufacture manipulating distortions of each other’s records. Obama’s lies are what got him and us in trouble and it is OBAMA’S deceptions which will be his undoing. And so also be our undoing if we abandon positions of truth for political comity which always ends in political comedy with the clowns running the 3 ring circus of a Whitehouse and WE THE PEOPLE gagging on their bad jokes and bad performance.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:51 am
I’m not sure what all your posts actually say because it seems like a different language.
January 27, 2012 @ 10:51 am
Why are Wolf Blitzer, Chris Wallace and their cronies who refer to themselves as “journalists” getting a pass with these debates? Every damned headline on the internet and in the newspapers the following morning accuse the debaters of “going after each other.” Its not true.
I have watched every one of them and the format has been the same. Specific questions that require a response about a subject matter are asked of the candidates. In every case, the “journalist” instigated the confrontation and in most cases encouraged the continuation of it. It has been my observation that Romney and Perry were at first, only too happy to oblige. After Perry dropped out, they all turned their attention and nonsensical line of questioning to Romney & Newt. During the second debate it was Newt who pointed out that personal attacks were most likely not going to be a ticket to the White House. In my opinion, it has been Romney who has willingly fed into this and become the intolerable one taunting Newt and sometimes Santorum.
For what it is worth, I have some very limited experience with Mitt. In my opinion, he is as shallow as a puddle but an educated $$$ man. I watched him learn very quickly how to follow the Drexel Burnham Lambert model on how to viciously convert the private venture capital industry into the leverage buyout mania that swept the economy in the 80s & 90s. For that effort alone, he became a very wealthy man.
Personally, I do not respect him and will not vote for him under any circumstance. To me, he is the adult version of the kid who gets caught chewing gum in class and immediately points to a classmate and says “well, he’s chewing gum too!”
The kind of person I have spent my entire life trying to stay away from.
January 27, 2012 @ 12:29 pm
Isn’t it a conservative’s dream to have all future primary seasons framed in a completely different manner!
Who in their right mind would continue to allow LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE people in the media to constantly put forth questions that, no matter how they are answered, will result in ‘egg on the face’ of the individual candidates?????
It’s all about making our Republican candidates look foolish…and they certainly have done that! Become tops in the most recent poll and it’s nothing but ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK – ask questions that are fully intended to destroy the current person at the top of the list. You know I’m right! Michelle – attack her husband’s clinic – Cain – bring out the anonymous scummy ladies – Newt – bring out his ex-wives and/or connections – Mitt – bring out his Bain deals…IT IS DISGUSTING!
We want a president who will bring America back to its former respected position in the world! We want a president who will allow America to become energy independent! We want a president who will put a STOP to Obamacare! We want a president who will DEMAND a BALANCED budget be passed! We want a president who will CUT the government down to size! We want a president who will follow the CONSTITUTION!
LISTEN TO US PLEASE!
January 27, 2012 @ 2:18 pm
He said ,they said, She said, they all have good ideas and could spend there time going after the real problem instead of bericking like abunch of old Farts. Imagine what could happen if put Mr. Romney, Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Ron Paul and Mr. Santorum in a room and was told to work it out,
Which one would have the best chance to beat Mr. Incompetent. Because at this rate he’s a shoe in.
We all want the best for the People and the United States, Our Constitution and Bill of Rights put back as it was.
Make the best one President the second one Vice President and third one Sectary of Defense and the last one Sectary of Treasury.
You bring in other Cabinets appointees that would be better for our Lives. All Americans.
Don’t waste any more time and money slinging defecation.
They all have something that (We The People Need).
January 27, 2012 @ 3:24 pm
Your right on it. We all need to get together on the common target. Stop all this bickering which the press feed on.
January 27, 2012 @ 3:34 pm
I thought it was truly priceless to watch Speaker Gingrich’s face especially when he thought he was being clever in telling the voters that Gov Romney’s “investments” in F&F when Romney told him that he himself has “investment” in F&F!
This what investments is all about. You put your money in and hope to get some return on your risk taking and investment of choice. Now it could be in govt bonds or private equity. I have not checked our meger investment, but we prob has some stake in F&F to in the form of govt bonds. Does that make us bad people? What we put into our merger investment, we worked hard for! The last I checked this is still a free country. Heck, Govt sell their bonds everyday! I am sure China owns alot of Govt bonds. It is different when Govt tries to bet on companies like Solyndra under the guise of green energy/energy independence when what Govt/Obama is really doing, is paying off his bundlers and we have no say in the matter!
Now going back to the Speaker saying that we should vote for him because he is a good debator and can go toe to toe with Obama. last night’s debate proved that we should not be picking a candidate simply and purely based upon debate performances. We forget that there will only be 3 debates in the general. If the Speaker was debating Obama and it was the final debate and performed like he did last night, we the GOP would be truly stuffed!
I am sure some people do vote for someone based upon one issue but I personally like to look at the big picture. It would be like saying I married my husband or wife because of looks, and nothing else matter. Again I am sure some do. That is their choice and perrogative. I am simply stating what I would do
January 27, 2012 @ 7:52 pm
It was also reported last night that Romney has hired a new debate coach.
January 27, 2012 @ 4:36 pm
Romney is the only guy that can beat Obama. He is the only one who can make the USA successful again. He is truly a nice guy. Just about everyone who worked with Newt dislike him. He is old, over weight, a womanizer, money grubber, someone who will do anything for the one he loves most HIMSELF!
January 27, 2012 @ 4:44 pm
Mitt couldn’t even beat McCain who couldn’t beat Obama. Trying the same thing while expecting different results is the definition of INSANITY!
January 27, 2012 @ 5:01 pm
I make no bones that I am not going to vote for Speaker Gingrich, though I liked him in when I saw him on Fox (well I was seduced) by his big ideas in 2007, I was very very disappointed when he decided not to run. Now that I have seen his acts, the way he continually attack captalism and freemarkets to name one example, I am even more disappointed. He is basically giving Obama alot of talking points and ADs. I hope he looses badly in FL so that his behaviour does not bring further damage to the party. This is the only way the party can coalesce and focus on Obama.
With one person who worked with him not liking him, I can undestand, but with so many, it appears to be a pattern. Sorry guys, this is how I feel.
sunfun, I dont mean to be rude but bringing the Speaker’s weight and age up not right or very nice. Sometimes one cant help being overweight and certainly he cant help being old either. We all get old one day. It is called the aging process
January 27, 2012 @ 7:51 pm
Have you heard, both Rush Limbaugh and Micheal Reagan support Newt. They also said that the current attempts to say Newt insulted President Reagan are outright lies. By the way, sunfun, Ronald Reagan was the oldest man ever to occupy the presidency on his FIRST DAY in office, and he served 8 years after that.
January 28, 2012 @ 8:04 am
oldwriter, Mr Limbaugh and Mr Reagan can endorsed Newt but it is off little consequence to me. Last time I never voted for Sen McCain despite him being the estb candidate. This time I happen to support the estb candidate. At the end of the day, I do my own selection, and as sure as hell dont let anyone (estb or conservative talk show hosts) ramp anyone down my throat.
January 28, 2012 @ 11:41 am
I listen to at least part of Rush Limbaugh’s radio show just about every day it’s on. I often listen to a repeat on Saturday at noon, available at a lot of stations online. As of yesterday, Friday, it’s my understanding that Rush Limbaugh has not and will not endorse any candidate in the primary. If this has changed, please provide us with a link to that endorsement.
And for the record, some of the accusations were quotes taken out of context, for example, Gingrich quoting someone else, as Rush pointed out yesterday. However, not all were false. For example, Gingrich did indeed suggest Bush not run on continuing the Reagan presidency. Gingrich did declare the era of Reagan to be over. Gingrich did tell the Wall Street Journal that Reagan was “in some danger of becoming another Jimmy Carter.”
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/newt-gingrichs-13-most-liberal-moments
Only a hyppocrite could support Gingrich while decrying the moral decay of our society.
January 27, 2012 @ 7:47 pm
Well folks, I see that the Republican that so many conservatives have called a RINO is supporting Romney. Any surprise there? I guess maybe McCain, whom I supported in the past, might really be a RINO. I also saw a report tonight on ABC that Romney has spent SEVEN TIMES the amount on ads as Gingrich in Florida. Are we going to allow a multi-millionaire moderate/liberal to BUY himself a nomination?
January 28, 2012 @ 8:00 am
Oldwriter, Yes i am aware the Gov Romney hired a newcoach but as i said, I support and will vote for a GOP candidate based upon the whole picture. I brought up this debate thing because Speaker Gringrich has been blowing his own horn saying telling voters that he is THE ONLY ONE who can debate Obama but I guess he would not want to talk about this now. I did notice that during his speech in SC he did back track a little after all his bragging that he was not a very good debator.
At the end of the day, if a candidate wants to hire a coach or fire a coach that is their perrogative. It is nothing untoward for them to do so
January 28, 2012 @ 7:55 pm
As a MA voter, disappointed with all the childish behavior of two of the three ‘leading’ candidates, I have decided to cast my vote for RICK SANTORUM. I want a president with character and strong principles and I believe he is the best out of the three. Since I will be working the polls, I must cast an early ballot…I do hope he stays in…he has won one out of three, just as the others have!
I hope he has gone home to recharge his batteries – not to consider getting out of the race. Many others I am in communication with have stated similar considerations as to the candidate they will vote for.
It is time to put away childish things (and behavior) and concentrate on WHAT IS BEST FOR AMERICA! If the candidates don’t wise up and realize they are turning the American voters OFF by their ill-natured ways, they will soon wake up to discover that fact!
Remember, it is BHO we must defeat!
January 28, 2012 @ 9:41 pm
Herman Cain has endorsed Newt Gingrich.