Gingrich's 'planned assault' on Romney: Too late?
A stumbling Newt backs off earlier promises to run a campaign free of damaging attacks — and sets his crosshairs on the GOP frontrunner
With a week to go to the Iowa caucuses, all bets are off. In a new statement targeting Mitt Romney, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has backed off earlier promises to launch a campaign free of negative attacks. In the statement, Gingrich's camp mocks the former Massachusetts governor for calling himself a "conservative businessman," citing a 2002 Romney quote in which he characterizes his views as "progressive." Team Gingrich asserts that its portrayal of Romney as a "Massachusetts moderate" isn't a slight, but rather an "accurate description of who he is." Considering Newt's recent series of setbacks, is throwing down the gauntlet this late in the game a wise move?
Newt needs something new: Gingrich has certainly "thrown elbows at Romney in the past," says Jonathan Martin at Politico, but those were "spur-of-the moment" and straight from the candidate's mouth; this, on the other hand, is a "planned assault." The Gingrich camp is "urgently in need" of momentum and this new offensive campaign "indicates a more significant step toward something that mixes issues and political character" — certainly a "different thing" for Gingrich and his team.
"A first: Newt camp goes on attack (and with oppo)"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
You call this an attack? Please: "I put 'attack' in square-quotes because the memo barely qualifies as such," says Tommy Christopher at Mediaite. "It's simply a cobbling together of various Mitt Romney quotes that portray him as a moderate who's willing to compromise." While the Gingrich camp's use of Romney's 2002 "progressive" quote is "obviously designed to hurt Romney with Republican base voters," it's unlikely that the attacks will "move the needle in any meaningful way." After all, Romney's greatest strength is his "electability" among independent voters. Painting him as a moderate will only reinforce that.
"Newt Gingrich ‘attack’ memo reinforces the case for Mitt Romney"
Newt has nothing to lose: While Newt did promise a "stronger counter-punch" to Romney's direct attacks, he's apparently decided "to throw roundhouses unprompted," says Allahpundit at Hot Air. And though focusing on Romney instead of Ron Paul might seem counter-intuitive given Paul's polling strength in Iowa, it effectively turns next Tuesday's caucus into a "Paul vs. Stop Paul" battle. If Newt can do enough damage to Mitt he might be able to snag the undecided vote as the more viable "Stop Paul" option. And if Mitt is wounded badly enough heading into New Hampshire, he'll take a "ferocious beating in the media for underperforming." If Iowa is a "jump ball" anyway, the question surrounding Newt's new offensive is: "Why not?"
"Oh my: Gingrich finally set to go negative on Romney?"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Best beach cafes around the UK
The Week Recommends Enjoy freshly cooked food within sight of the sea – whatever the weather
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
My Arbor: a unique treetop retreat in the Dolomite mountains
The Week Recommends Detox like a true European in the South Tyrol region of northernmmost Italy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The complicated problem of banning menthol cigarettes
The Explainer Banning menthol smokes will save lives, public health officials say. But this is an election year.
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published