Gingrich’s last-ditch effort to stop Romney

What happened

Mitt Romney’s rivals in the Republican presidential race attempted to rally conservative voters behind them this week, in a frantic bid to halt the front-runner’s momentum ahead of the South Carolina primary. Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry stepped up attacks on the former Massachusetts governor, while competing to be the lone remaining conservative with a chance of stopping him. Gingrich reinvigorated his campaign with a feisty debate performance, brushing away suggestions that he was engaging in racially coded rhetoric when he called Barack Obama “the food stamp president,” and suggested that blacks “should demand jobs and not be satisfied with food stamps.’’ To a standing ovation from South Carolina Republicans, Gingrich said “only the elites despise earning money,’’ and he said he would “continue to find ways to help poor people learn how to get a job.’’

Romney came under fire from other candidates not just for his career heading Bain Capital (see Talking points), but also for refusing thus far to release his tax returns. Under mounting pressure, Romney said he might release his 2011 tax returns in April; he later estimated that he pays only about 15 percent in federal taxes, since his income largely comes from investments taxed at the capital-gains rate. His rivals pressed him to release his returns now, so Republican voters could find out if he’s a “flawed candidate’’ before he wins the nomination.

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What the editorials said

We know Gingrich is desperate, said The New York Times, but his renewed attempt to exploit “racial resentment’’ this week marks a new low, even for him. The number of people qualifying for food stamps has grown because of the deep recession that began during the Bush administration. Whites far outnumber African-Americans on food-stamp rolls, and 30 percent of recipients are the working poor. Obviously, Gingrich hopes to get back into this race by feeding “the prejudice of people who already believe that blacks and other poor people don’t like to work.’’

Romney’s admission that he’s paying 15 percent in taxes will trigger “mayhem,’’ said The Wall Street Journal. But rather than react defensively, Romney now has a giant opportunity to discuss “serious tax reform,’’ and make the “moral and practical case for lower rates.” He should shift the conversation to eliminating “the thicket of loopholes and carve-outs” in the current tax code, and creating a flat tax rate that would be more fair—and boost the nation’s economic growth.

What the columnists said

Romney shouldn’t apologize for paying the legal tax rate on capital gains, said David Frum in TheDailyBeast.com. In fact, that 15 percent rate is “good policy,” permitting assets to be transferred cheaply, which allows businesses to expand and the economy to grow. But it’s also a “huge driver” of growing income inequality, said Alec MacGillis in TheNewRepublic.com, which is certain to be a key issue in this year’s election. Half of all capital gains taxes over the past 30 years have been claimed by the top 0.1 percent of taxpayers—the very, very rich. Does the GOP really want to nominate this “silver-templed exemplar” of how unfair our system has become?

They don’t have much choice, said Kimberley A. Strassel in The Wall Street Journal. “The non-Romney vote is as split as ever,” no thanks to the candidates themselves. Gingrich’s vitriolic attacks on his rivals and capitalism itself have turned off voters, and Santorum has focused on abortion and other social issues instead of the economy, while Perry’s “herky-jerky campaign” has floundered from day one. At least Jon Huntsman had the good sense to bow out before South Carolina. The rest are simply “botching it.”

Don’t count Gingrich out just yet, said John Dickerson in Slate.com. His debate performance showcased the exact “conviction and fight” that Romney’s critics say he is lacking. For conservatives eager to coalesce behind one person, “Gingrich presented the best possible case at the right moment.” Republicans beware, said Michael Gerson in The Washington Post. Newt’s attacks on Bain proved he’s “willing to pull down the temple around him” if it hurts Mitt Romney. For as long as Gingrich remains in the race, the Republican Party is at risk of ending up “in the rubble.”