DOUBLE UPDATE: Gingrich has called reports that he is backing off his attacks on Romney's tenure at Bain "misleading." Gingrich's spokesman R.C. Hammond indicates that the attacks are fair game and will proceed.
UPDATE: Gingrich announced today that he intends to drop the rapidly backfiring line of attack on Romney's tenure at Bain Capital after South Carolinian voter and Santorum supporter requested he do so, POLITICO reports. Campaign finance laws prohibit him from coordinating with the PAC that is organizing the $3.4 million attack on Romney in South Carolina, so it is not clear yet whether the PAC will also back off as Gingrich has requested. They are under no obligation to do so.
Peggy Noonan, former Ronald Reagan speech writer and Wall Street Journal columnist, must have known just how cleaver she was being when she coined that phrase to describe former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s newfound appreciation for negative campaigning. Residents of South Carolina are soon to find out exactly how angry this muffin is as Gingrich, as well as most of his Republican competition, prepare to saturate the Palmetto State with anti-Romney advertising.
Gingrich recently told CNN’s John King that he intends to go “all out” in South Carolina and that his campaign is at a “crossroads.” He is pinning much of his presidential hopes on a loyal PAC’s $3.4 million ad buy in South Carolina which will broadcast clips of a short film that slams Romney for his tenure with the private equity firm Bain Capital.
The Gingrich campaign just launched an add in South Carolina called “Changed,” which hits Romney for changing his views from being pro-choice to now claiming that he is staunchly pro-life. This ad is coupled with a $250,000 airtime purchase.
Gingrich coupled this with a web ad that claims that Romney would suffer in a debate against Obama – The ad claims that Gingrich is less prone to saying damaging statements on the fly than Romney (a dubious claim).
Gingrich is committed to the slash-and-burn campaign and has made no secret that he is peeved at the Romney campaign and it’s loyal PACs for their “kitchen sink” attacks on Gingrich in Iowa – a grossly disproportionate number of negative ads were aimed at Gingrich in that race. The former House Speaker has said clearly that his intention now is to deny Romney the nomination – a mission that may already be lost.
Rick Perry and Rick Santorum are also fielding ads in South Carolina – but their opening salvos are largely positive, biographical pieces. Romney is also on the air in South Carolina continuing his successful campaign against Newt Gingrich who continues to poll in second place in the Palmetto State.
Only Texas Rep. Ron Paul is holding his fire against Romney, even going so far as to defend the former Massachusetts governor against attacks that mischaracterized the context of a recent statement in which Romney declared that he liked to “fire people.” Ron Paul is fielding negative ads, but his ads attack Rick Santorum.
Paul’s strategy is clear – he has good reason to view himself as Romney’s closest competitor in the Republican race. Both Paul and Romney benefit most from the fractured field of Republican candidates, but Paul usually receives a portion of the support of whatever anti-Romney loses favor with the electorate. Paul will attempt to bring down all the anti-Romney’s before he trains his fire on the GOP frontrunner – although, by the time this occurs given the amount of money in the race, it may be too late for the Paul campaign to effectively challenge Romney’s juggernaut campaign.
Given all this political advertising, one thing is clear: by the time the Palmetto State votes on the 24th, the residents of South Carolina should be quite sick of politics.
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