Gingrich feels ‘Romney-boated’

Associated Press

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa

Struggling to reverse a slide in his standing, Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich said Sunday he’d been “Romney-boated” in Iowa and suggested his GOP rival would buy the presidency if he could.

The sharp words against Mitt Romney, a multimillionaire many times over who is in strong contention to win Iowa, come two days before voters here weigh in on the Republican field. It was part of a stepped-up effort by Gingrich to contrast himself with Romney, and the candidate said he would adopt an even more aggressive strategy when the race moves to New Hampshire, the former Massachusetts governor’s backyard.

Gingrich’s nautical attack was a reference to a 2004 TV ad campaign by a group called the “Swiftboat Veterans for Truth” that bloodied Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. This year, Gingrich has faced an onslaught of negative TV advertisements by a group aligned with Romney.

Asked Sunday whether he felt that he had been “swiftboated,” Gingrich replied, “I feel Romney-boated.”

It was his second swipe of the day at the Republican frontrunner.

Speaking to reporters after attending morning Mass at the St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines, Gingrich said the amount Romney will eventually spend on his various campaigns will rival the spending of billionaire New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“Romney would buy the election if he could,” Gingrich said.

A new Des Moines Register poll put Gingrich in fourth place, after leading the field a few weeks ago.

Gingrich, who has pledged to run a positive campaign, sought to make up ground by attacking Romney — and promised more to come.

Even as he attacked Romney, Gingrich insisted he would not go negative — which he defined as distortions and lies — but would work to correct misleading charges against himself and draw a clearer contrast with Romney.