(CNN) - The avalanche of negative campaign ads from Mitt Romney is wearing on rival Newt Gingrich, but he said Thursday he won't break his pledge to stay positive.
Speaking to Iowa Public Television, the former House speaker said the onslaught of vitriol coming from Romney headquarters jarred with the spirit of the holidays.
"I think it's counterintuitive," Gingrich said. "We have an ad that will come up next week where Callista and I are wishing people a Merry Christmas, and we're talking in a totally positive way. I think if these guys keep up this kind of negative junk, it's so discordant with the spirit of Christmas."
Gingrich said his guarantee to remain positive was uncharted territory for presidential politics, and couldn't say for sure if his strategy would be successful.
"This is a real experiment," Gingrich said. "I can't tell you today, given the millions of dollars being spent on advertising, telephone calls, direct mail, all of it negative, I don't know at the end of the day if I'll be the frontrunner in Iowa, because there is a combined weight of negativity that weighs you down."
Political professionals are advising him to go negative, Gingrich said, but support from Iowa voters has convinced him to avoid attacks on his opponents.
"I'm getting two kinds of advice," Gingrich said. "The traditional consultants are all saying 'you have to hit back.' Citizens are walking up to me saying stay positive, have faith the people of Iowa will see through this."
Gingrich's comments to Iowa Public Television came the same day he released a television ad in Iowa touting his positive campaign.
"These are challenging and important times for America," Gingrich said in the spot. "We want and deserve solutions. Others seem to be more focused on attacks rather than moving the country forward. That's up to them."
Gingrich said in the interview fundraising comparisons between his campaign and Romney's would also be skewed in his rival's favor.
"I'll never have as much money as Mitt Romney can raise," Gingrich said. "That's a fact, and you have to start the campaign understanding that. On the other hand we run a campaign that's a lot less expensive, so there's a certain balance in that."
Gingrich asserted that Romney's White House bid will end if the former Massachusetts governor can't win New Hampshire.
"If he can't carry New Hampshire, the race is over, in terms of his candidacy," Gingrich said.
From CNN Politics
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What a farce this man is! We have already heard speak of himself as THE geat one. That he will win the nomination. This man is a lying cheat. He is pandering, as a new catholic, to the bible thumping crowd at christmas time.
He is being positive because he looks and sounds better than the rest ofnthe clowns but deep down inside he is the same piece ofnscum he was when he was thrown on his butt on the Capitol steps!
Credit where it's due...I saw this one on TPM's site...went something like this:
Newt: "You don't understand...I'm not the second coming of Christ...Christ was the first coming of Me!"
Gave me the giggles.
Are these two ever going to get down to actually debating their policy differences? All of this "I'm the nice guy" ... "No you're not, I'm the better nice guy"... "Are not, I'm the best better nice guy" ... "Are not" ... is better served for Sesame Street viewers, don't you think?
The old fox. Notice he appeals to the emotions as the one being abused. Then he hits myth romney where it will hurt most with regular folks during a downturn; on the amount of money he has. This man is good for the white house. Washington will work again with him as president.
Newt has watched "The Secret" one too many times. Mr. Positive has a history of cheating, lying and being a divissive figure. I dislike Romney just as much, but Newt Gingrich is simply a phoney. the Repbulican's have a sorry lot of candidates to choose from. Either way, they will lose in 2012.
in a way I admit I'm going to be sad when this is all over..it's been so entertaining. This is better than Obama/Clinton in 2008 ever was. LOL
Yes...how horrible for Newtered to be attacked near Xmas. Let's focus on that instead of the GOP/Teatroll attacks on the middle-class that are going on at the same time. Clearly, that's the wisest course because CNN isn't going to be making friendly with giant corporate advertisers and outfits like Crossroads who want to spend money on ads if the blatant contrast gets made between "poor Newtered and the atatcks on him during Xmas" and "this Xmas, the GOP is threatening to raise all middle-class taxes if we don't let them increase Medicare premiums for the middle class, deregulate air quality standards for industrial boilers/incinerators, defund parts of the ACA and eviscerate the federal workforce." Merry Xmas, middle class!!! Ho ho ho!!!
Gingrich the Grinch
Gingrich is the real Grinch and a pervert Grinch too. He stole many a Christmas from others when he divorced two wives and had extra-marital sexual affairs with the current one who should really be ashamed of herself. She joined with him in stealing Christmas from others. You bet he will steal many more...isn't he the Grinch who steals Christmas? Isn't this his nature, anyway?
Newt is the epitome of greed, gluttony, and hate as a political tool.
Gingrich the Grinch
Gingrich is the real Grinch and a pervert Grinch too. He stole many a Christmas from others when he divorced two wives and had extra-marital sexual affairs with the current one who should really be ashamed of herself.
So how did America's Christian party wind up campaigning all through the holidays? Doesn't seem consistent with those family values.
Neut Gingrich is one of the most negative politicians around–acid tongue, etc. The "positive" stuff is clearly just another campaign tactic. There's nothing real about this guy except his nastiness.
what I want to know is what are the republicans going to do to keep a 2nd financial meltdown from happening again? What are they going to do to keep tax payers from doing another TARP (which was produced by the republicans).
Also what are they going to do to keep insurance companies from rejecting people with pre-existing conditions?
Well we have all seen how well he has honored his pledge to remain faithful. This guy is beginning to scare me, it is like he is in some alternate universe where he just doesn't get. He may be at the top of the polls, but he will never win an election. But he acts like he is God gift to t he republicans, good grief.
I don't think anybody gives a hoot whether this old, fake egomaniac is positive, negative or anything at all.
He is an embarrassing disaster and will never get elected to anything, anywhere.
I hope Ginrich cleans Romney's clock! As much as I dislike Ginrich, I dislike Romney even more. What a flake, fake, plastic flip flopper Romney is!
Liberals are seeing a moral reflection of themselves in newt and they so hate what they are seeing they are getting religion- asking questions about marital sacredness. It is a master stroke by conservatives; this unorthodox move of getting behind newt. It will win them the presidency.
The hyprocritical tone and this self-righteous new Newt is utterly disgusting and makes me want to puke...Why can't the GOP see the potential in Huntsman. Obiviously, they don't want to do right (no pun intended).
Obama/Biden 2012
Romney or Gingrich, either one is fine. Just as long as they beat Obama. Gingrich would be the much better debater against Obama. Romney is just a tad too nice and likely to hold back frokm whacking Obama like Newt could. It will be played up by the liberal MSM as "weak", instead of polite. After all nobody can be mean to Obama, the first black president or they might be considered racists (according to the left).
It'll be interesting to see how the MSM pushes Obama like they did in 2008. I don't there will be much coverage of his 3 year record and the Obamacare failure.
Gingrinch now trying out the Faux Noise "Victimization" strategy.
boohoo..why is everyone picking on me...boohoo
Hmmm all the slush Gingrich has thrown around at every body, and now he is complaining some of it is splashing back on him. Well I guess what he can do, everybody else can too.
Can't wait to see the entitled & out-of-touch crybaby Myth Romney who is desperate putting so much negative ads and shredding his FAILED records as MA Gov. lose New Hampshire!
I knew is not the best candidate in the whole GOP clown car, but he got more smarts in his pinky toe compared to Myth Romney, and he sounds really contrite, so God can forgive someone who is humble and is staying positive!!!
But Myth Romney is sucking up to Karl Rove tactics and all the GOP establishment elite to take back this country to the GW Busha days! This idiot Myth Romney will kiss anybody's bu$$ and say whatever he can at any given day just to earn that feather in his cap as POTUS!!!!....Myth just doesn't care or understand ordinary Americans!!!!!
This Republican will vote for Obama. Again!
Victim much, Newtie?
Gingrich/Palin2012...a winning ticket if there ever was one!!
Ron Paul. The rest of the GOP field and even Obama are political puppets. Ron Paul predicted 9/11 and the current economic conditions amoungst other things and no one would listen to him. He is the only politician I can think of that has had an unchanging view his political career. He is very smart, but people just don't do their own research to know what he's talking about.
Gingrinch and Flip flop romney are the worst. OBAMA 2012!!
Newt's insincere play acting is transparent. We know him too well. Being insincere is a lie, which is what we are used to from him. Also, insincerety is harder to swallow than "negative" ads that are stating the truth.
But what Romney says is true, eh, Newt? Newt is trying hard to make himself the good guy. Please don't fall for it.
typical Republican, always the victim!
Gingrich – 84 ethics violations in 6 years
Ron Paul – 0 ethics violations in 30 years
I hope the Grinch gets the nomination. Then he can shut up. It will be a show in for Obama.
Now that he's topping the GOP polls, Gingrich can't take the criticism? lol need a thicker skin than that
Gingrich/Palin?
Romney/Paul?
Please. Give me Obama/Biden.
Awww poor Newty....
He's a victim.
Let's use Christmas as a way of making Romney look bad for exposing his lifetime of evil.
It's clear Gingrich doesn't care about winning the nomination, he cares about making money. The best way to do that is to garner attention by creatinig an image of himself as a statesman who is above the fray. He will stay positive all the way to the bank.
This from the man who wants to bring back the days of street urchins polishing boots and sweeping chimneys all covered in soot and coughing up ashes? For shame, GinGRINCH, for shame – but you have none at all.
"Liberals are seeing a moral reflection of themselves in newt and they so hate what they are seeing they are getting religion- asking questions about marital sacredness. It is a master stroke by conservatives; this unorthodox move of getting behind newt. It will win them the presidency." That is so incredibly deluded. You act as if voters who prefer more government services at the cost of higher taxes are also immoral, as if the two things are somehow connected. And how do you figure that this 'moral reflection' is going to make all the liberals decide to vote for Newt? Really, it seems you are trying to convince the GOP voters that Newt's immorality is not such a bad thing.
During the debate, Gingrich managed to have affairs with two different women.
Its so refreshing to see Gingrich take the high road. Since it is such new territory for him, I hope he takes along his GPS.
Newt has so many skeletons in his closet he is just trying to keep the other candidates from slamming his morality, etc. Wants to play nice BUT he can drop an insult quickly. A Merry Christmas ad? Really? Calista is still not First Lady material no matter how you spin it.
Newt might PETER out but some think he’s good at coming from BEHIND. The truth is there is no truth if deception has been the vehicle to move forward regardless of who’s under the wheels and that perceived ruthlessness describes Mr. Gingrich without impunity.
We have had Santa Clause. He left us with a 15 Trillion Dollar Debt. Catching on? Now we need Scrouge. We need the Grinch. Catching on? Newt and Mitt will make a good Ticket. But don't expect anything but Coal in your Stocking. You voted for it, Remember?
newt ~ just your being on the planet is a negative attack ad on humanity.
Apparently Newt has no concept of political correctness, or has signed up as a warrior for FOX News' "War on Christmas".
Wishing people a "Merry Christmas" instead of a "Happy Holidays" risks alienating the entire non Christian vote.
Good for you, Newt. I'm happy that you think you're so far ahead you can take such a risk with potential voters.
OMG, is he really serious? Trying to act like he cares more about Christmas than he does about himself? Cry me a river, why don't you Newt? Then maybe it'll carry you and Callista far, far away (sorry, but I dislike her almost as much as I dislike him. I mean she not only has an affair with a married man, but said affair was with Newt, so not only does she clearly not have any morals, she also doesn't have any taste)!
OK, "teacher Gingrich." If we can compare Romney as a grinch, your photo on the cover of Time magazine is far too similar to photos of Benito Musolini the Italian dictator of the facist Italian government of the 1930s and 40s. If you are truly an American patriot, you will get out of the nomination process and commit yourself to helping the other jokers make up their minds to get out.
I've yet to actually meet someone who is for or excited about Newt, Romney, Bachmann, Perry, or Huntsman. The only one I actually see FAR more support then critique is Ron Paul. People actually get excited about Ron Paul. How can the Republican party and the media dismiss him so? Seems like a lost opportunity. I'd love to see Ron Paul as Speaker of the House. Him and Obama could do some great things. THEY would compromise. THEY would actually think and act in reality. The current idea of stonewall politics is hurting America.