PersonalizeThe Washington PostCampaign 2012CongressCourts &LawThe Fed PageHealth CarePollingWhite HouseBlogs & ColumnsIssues: EnergyIn the NewsBarack Obama Mitt Romney Florida poll Bella Santorum Pay freeze ???initialComments:true! pubdate:01/30/2012 12:14 EST! commentPeriod:14! commentEndDate:2/13/12 12:14 EST! currentDate:1/30/12 6:0 EST! allowComments:true! displayComments:true!
Stars on the SAG Awards red carpet
PHOTOS: The end of Occupy D.C.?
Photos: SAG Award winners
Your friendly neighborhood squirrels
Dan BalzThe TakeWill Romney-Gingrich battle lead to costly split in the GOP?
View Photo Gallery — January The latest polls show former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney surging in the Florida Republican primary race.
Text SizePrintE-mailReprints By Dan Balz, TAMPA — Newt Gingrich has vowed to take his fight for the nomination all the way to the Republican convention in August. That may be nothing more than an empty threat by a frustrated candidate with a history of exaggerated rhetoric. But could Gingrich’s battle against Mitt Romney leave the party badly divided heading into the fall campaign?
That question will intensify if Romney wins a big victory in Florida on Tuesday. Election-eve polls show the former Massachusetts governor with a healthy lead here, though the volatility of the Republican race so far this year makes forecasting more precarious than in the past. But already the lines are being drawn over whether Gingrich, if he loses badly, should begin to throttle back or keep the pressure on Romney.
Loading...CommentsWeigh InCorrections?
Behind in the polls the day before the Florida Republican presidential primary, Gingrich criticizes Romney's negative advertising and urges supporters to help get out the vote. (Jan. 30)Graphic
GOP PRIMARY TRACKER: The race for delegatesMore on this TopicRead more on PostPolitics.comPoll shows Romney surge in FloridaA Romney-friendly run-up to Super TuesdayGingrich delivers on 'wild and woolly' vowView all Items in this StoryRomney adviser woos Hispanic voters in FloridaGOP faces prospect of protracted primary fightGOP race headed for a lullFormer Republican senator Mel Martinez (Fla.) said Monday that he cringes at the prospect of a lengthy and bitter contest continuing through the spring and into the summer. “It only benefits President Obama,” he said on NBC’s “Daily Rundown.”
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, no friend of the establishment, took the opposite view over the weekend on Fox News. She accused the establishment of trying to “crucify” Gingrich and said it is far too soon to call a halt to the debate and the vetting of the candidates. “If for no other reason, rage against the machine, vote for Newt,” Palin said.
Whatever the outcome Tuesday, the Florida campaign has crystallized the battle between Romney and Gingrich. The backlash against Gingrich since his victory in South Carolina has made Romney the clear establishment favorite in a party where tensions between the party elite and its insurgent grass roots are still strong. The endorsement of Gingrich by former candidate Herman Cain, a tea party favorite, underscored the split.
Gingrich is hardly the perfect vehicle to lead a tea party protest against the establishment-backed Romney, given his record as former House speaker and later as a Washington consultant. But he has the capacity, if not the resources, to wage a lengthy and personal campaign against his rival. In the past few days, he has escalated his attacks on Romney, labeling the former governor as a liberal rather than a moderate and calling Romney’s character and honesty into question.
Romney has responded by matching insult with insult. He has belittled Gingrich as a complainer and doubled down on his attacks on the former speaker over his work for the housing agency Freddie Mac. Romney’s campaign appearances are mild compared to the negative ads running constantly on television here, both from the Romney campaign and the super PAC supporting his candidacy.
Political analysts are looking at past nomination battles for clues as to what might happen if the Romney-Gingrich contest continues unabated for some time.
At this time four years ago, Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were waging an increasingly nasty campaign against one another, coming out of a South Carolina primary in which former president Bill Clinton was accused of playing the race card against Obama by some African American leaders. Though many predicted otherwise, Obama and Clinton eventually reconciled.
Continued12Next PageEmailTumblrRedditStumbleuponDiggDeliciousWeigh InDiscussion PolicyAbout Discussions, Badges Newest firstOldest firstMost Recommended first SuperFan BadgeSuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.
More about badges | Request a badge Culture Connoisseur BadgeCulture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.
More about badges | Request a badge Fact Checker BadgeFact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.
More about badges | Request a badge Washingtologist BadgeWashingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.
More about badges | Request a badge Post Writer BadgeThis commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.
Post Forum BadgePost Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.
More about badges | Request a badge Weather Watcher BadgeWeather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.
More about badges | Request a badge World Watcher BadgeWorld Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.
More about badges | Request a badge Post RecommendedWashington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.
You must be logged in to report a comment.
Sign in hereYou must be logged in to recommend a comment.
Sign in hereComments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.
All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.
More about badgesGet a badgeTo pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.
Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers. + SHARE THIS DEBATE
Featured Blogs & Columns
Election 2012News and conversation about the 2012 elections.
Fact CheckerThe truth behind the rhetoric
The TakeDan Balz on politics WP Social Reader Hide this Friends' Activity Most Popular in politics Most Popular in politics Most Popular Right Now
Your Friends’ Most Recent Activity
View More ActivityPowered by
The Post Most: PoliticsMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hoursMost PopularMitt Romney, Newt Gingrich trade barbs in FloridaWill Romney-Gingrich battle lead to costly split in the GOP?Rick Santorum: Daughter Bella almost died, but has ralliedSantorum pushed to limit malpractice awards but sought larger payout for wifeRon Paul signed off on racist 1990s newsletters, associates sayTop VideosStephen Colbert: New attack ad targeting RomneyMitt Romney calls Newt Gingrich 'Goldilocks' (1:12)Gingrich urges Fla. voters to get out the vote (1:13)Jan Brewer defends pointing finger at Obama (1:46)Romney jabs Gingrich on eve of Fla. primaryTop GalleriesPresident Obama on the 2012 campaign trailThe GOP presidential contenders: JanuaryCampaign 2012: Rick SantorumA portrait of black womenRomney adviser woos Hispanic voters in Florida Fact or Fiction? Loading... Track all the Campaign 2012 fact checks Campaign 2012 tools 
Republican primary tracker Explore the state of the 2012 race in key early states.
Mad Money: Campaign ads Watch the latest campaign ads and track how much candidates spend.
Campaign Finance Explorer See who's raising and spending the most money.
2012 Presidential Candidates
Mitt Romney
Newt Gingrich
Ron Paul
Rick Santorum
Barack ObamaSee AllFeatured Advertiser LinksL U N G C A N C E R ? Call us.>>HIP REPLACEMENT -- did you get one after '03?>>Help Barack stand up for working Americans. Join our campaign now.>>The only candidate fighting for the middle class: Pres. Obama. Join us.>>Sign up for email updates from President Obama's 2012 campaign.>>Sign up for official email updates from Barack Obama's campaign.>>Looking to buy a home? Visit TWP Real Estate section for the latest open houses.>>Make Your Vanguard Investing More Profitable - Free Research Report Reveals Best & Worst Funds>>Top politics Stories People Also ReadMost Popular Videos
Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich trade barbs in FloridaKaren Tumulty; Philip Rucker 
Will Romney-Gingrich battle lead to costly split in the GOP?Dan Balz 
Rick Santorum: Daughter Bella almost died, but has ralliedNia-malika Henderson 
Santorum pushed to limit malpractice awards but sought larger payout for wifeCarol D. Leonnig 
Paul pursued strategy of publishing controversial newsletters, associates sayJerry Markon; Alice Crites 
Florida primary: Mitt Romney pulls ahead of Newt Gingrich::unspecified:: New poll shows Romney surging in Fla.; Gingrich looks to future primariesAmy Gardner; Philip Rucker; William Branigin 
Newt Gingrich ad suggests America could become CubaRachel Weiner White House criticizes RNC chairman’s comparison of Obama to Italian cruise ship captainAssociated Press 
Federal, congressional pay freeze bill to be considered by House this weekEd O'keefe; Eric Yoder 
Gingrich vows to ban embryonic stem-cell research, questions in vitro practicesKaren Tumulty 
State of the Union 2012: Obama speech transcript::unspecified:: 
Gingrich and Santorum: We’re in it for the long haulAaron Blake 
Wasserman Schultz: Priebus ‘crossed the line’ comparing Obama to Costa Concordia captainFelicia Sonmez 
Lousy campaign year for daughters, wives, female donorsLori Stahl 
Obama tax proposals amplify his political message but stand little chance of passing CongressAssociated Press Supreme Court has shown unity, but little guidanceRobert Barnes Federal retirees face confusion, possibly payment delayJoe Davidson 
Romney gains momentum in Florida; Cain endorses GingrichPhilip Rucker; Amy Gardner 
Why February will be the cruelest month for Newt GingrichChris Cillizza Ways you can get us Mobile Apps Newsletter & alerts RSS Post Store Facebook Photo Store Twitter Washington Post Live The Washington Post Work for us Community Relations PostPoints Corrections/Suggestions Archive Contact the Ombudsman Report a problem Web site Make us your homepage Digital Guidelines Ask The Post Newspaper Subscribe Home delivery service e-Replica Advertise In the newspaper On the web site Mobile Events The Washington Post Company Post Company web sites Partners Slate Express Night Out Captial Business El Tiempo Latino The Root Foreign Policy Trove Post Tickets Capitol Deal Service Alley Post Master Class WP Live Student Advisor College Reviews © 1996- The Washington Post Terms of Service Privacy Policy Reprints and Permissions RSS Terms of Service Help Contact Us Ad Choices 
No comments:
Post a Comment