Las Vegas (CNN) – Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich got trumped by "The Donald" in Las Vegas when the mogul decided to throw his support behind Mitt Romney Thursday.
Both White House hopefuls are campaigning in Nevada ahead of the state's Republican caucuses on Saturday. Gingrich's two morning events – a speech at Xtreme Manufacturing and a meeting with Hispanic business leaders – were largely overshadowed by the news that Trump was endorsing Romney, his chief rival, on the Vegas strip.
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Most in the Republican field had been courting the millionaire mogul and reality television host. Gingrich met with him in New York City in early December.
But as Gingrich was checking out Xtreme's manufacturing equipment he dismissed the significance of a Trump endorsement, expressing amazement to reporters that he was getting so much attention.
Meanwhile, Gingrich continued on Thursday to take something Romney said about poor people out of context to feed a narrative about his wealthy presidential opponent.
Romney was talking about how he would help the middle class in a CNN interview Wednesday when he said he was not "concerned about the very poor" because there is a safety net in place for them but added, "if there are holes in it, I will work to repair that."
Speaking to supporters and employees in the chilly manufacturing plant, the former speaker used another analogy to describe how he would help lower income Americans.
"I really believe that we should care about the very poor unlike Gov. Romney," Gingrich said Thursday. "Both Gov. Romney and Barack Obama seem to believe that a quote – safety net – is all the poor need. I don't believe that. What the poor need is a trampoline so they can spring up and quit being poor."
– Follow Shawna Shepherd on Twitter: @ShepherdCNN
Also see:
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From CNN Politics
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Newt joins thousands of others who have been screwed over by the Donald.
All these stupid stories about TRUMP?!?! One of the most irrelevant idiots in America? CNN, I stopped clicking your insipid Palin stories years ago. I'll be doing the same with Trump. Give it rest and start acting like real journalist instead of toadies for the new idiocracy.
PS: We know what Flipper the Elitist Robot said, CNN, so we don't need your butt-smooching comments about context. If you want a lesson in context, start mentioning that two thirds of America wants to raise taxes on the wealthy. That belongs in every single article about tax policy.
Gingrich ought to send Trump flowers. People hate the guy, HATE him. Gingrich 2012.
Newt to Romney: "You Sold Me Out!"
Poor, Uneducated White (R) voters to RNC: "insert same"
Well Grinch I guest you'll find out one day that rich folks are not grounded, they neither have a conscience nor loyalty. They are like the wind, they go any place where they can get power and money. You suppose to know this very well newt, this is what you people do. Its ironic how the folks who screams about intergrity and patriotism are the one that usually lacking them. Hey newt think about it this way, they people will be mad as hell at the establishment, so milk it for all its worth. And get off the race bating newt, the red knecks know what you are insinuating.
They all deserve each other
First he wanted the endorsement, and now that he didn't get it, he claims it doesn't matter. Yeah, Right. We, at least he has Sarah.
"Poor" Newt, Florida challenge, Trump trump and things are on a slippery slide. Will Newt continue to throw money into an open flame or will he jump into his "safety net" and slither off into the sunset!!
Either way, the GOP reality show continues and all it does is make it abundantly clear, there is no viable challenger for President Obama. The reason there is no effectual challenger is because there is an overwhelming fear, in the GOP power base, that know BHO is in for a second term! Anyone with any real chance is waiting for 2016 (Christie, Huntsman, etal).
Why should he be so upset that the bad hair man, the man who has filed for bankruptcy and made an even bigger fool of himself with the birther issue, is not endorsing him?
He has the hillbilly trash from AK on his side. All three of them put together still don't make a whole intelligent worthy human being.
And to think that Newt was the only one who accepted the offer to participate in Trump's debate. Back then, Trump touted Newt's acceptance as reason for his rise in the polls. So flaky, Mr. Trump. So naive, Mr. Gingrich.
Newt... Your fired! There's the door. See ya!
Well, neither Trump nor Romney worry much, or care much, about poor people. Hopefully, voters do.
well, my big dislike of Donald Trump is now a smidgen less than it was yesterday.
Hey noot. Look down and to your right. There's a blonde there who looks like she could have potential.
Donald Trump endorsed the candidate he felt would beat Obama in November and that was Mitt Romney! Take it like a man Newt!
I am glad Donald Trump endorsed so that he can continue on the Apprentice...I love that show!!!
"I really believe that we should care about the very poor..." Just like he did when his children were forced to get food from as church food pantry after he abandoned them for the next wife? Oh, we can only hope that this homunculus gets the Republican-Teaba$$er nomination!
I am starting a new campaign it is called Dump the Trump! We – Average Americans – don't give a rat's you know what about the famous comb over – he needs to be FIRED from a cannon to some far away place and never heard from again!
If I were Mitt – I would have told him "go endorse Newt – I don't want and don't need your endorsement!"
GAG GAG GAG!
Ho Hum, who cares – really?
Poor Newt. He has to take the back door to trump too.
Why does Donald Trump's opinion deserve media opinion. There are many Obama supporters whose opinion is not covered. CNN coverage is really skewed lately. Just compare the amount of time given to repubs' opinion as opposed to those who support the President.
Newt YOU ARE FIREDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD! What a hoot!
!
Does anyone else see the irony of Newt making an apearance at a company called Xtreme?
Not sure if Trump's endorsement will help or hurt Romney... but one thing is clear. Newt has taken Romney's comments completely out of context.
1) Romney has donated millions more and a far higher percentage of his income as well to helping the poor than Newt has
2) Romney has donated far more of his time to helping the poor than Newt has. He worked for years as a lay minister (for free) 20+ hours a week. Much of this time was in providing assistance to the poor.
3) Romney understands principles of self-sufficiency that will help the poor. He also understands that keeping the middle class from becoming poor is one of the keys to helping the poor.
Newt meanwhile wants poor children to focus less on their studies and spend more time doing janitorial duties. He wants to get rid of child labor laws. He has donated a meager 2-3% of his income to charities. The idea of Newt lecturing Mitt about caring for the poor is absolutely laughable.
having a Donald endorsement is like having a Palin endorsement..............
Probably a win for Newt