Gingrich uses another tele-town hall to dispel negative attacks

Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) - GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich tried to refute negative charges with another "Ask Newt" tele-town hall with Iowans Thursday evening.

Although these calls are intended to clear up any "falsehoods," the fact that Gingrich continues to defend his pro-life record and explain his ties to Freddie Mac is an indication the former House speaker is struggling getting his message out.

Gingrich, who has vowed not to engage in negative advertising, is finding himself up against more than a million dollars worth of television and radio ads, direct mail, and robo calls by his opponents and third-party groups in the weeks leading up to the January 3 Iowa caucuses.

While campaigning in Virginia earlier Thursday Gingrich said, "There's no question it has an impact and so we have to now overcome that impact."

That might be proving to be more difficult than the he had anticipated. This was the second "Ask Newt" call in five days in which he addressed his position on abortion reform and his consulting work with federally backed mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

This time he defended his record on abortion funding by contrasting his record with his campaign rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

“There is a suggestion that I was in favor of funding abortions in China. That is just plain factually false," Gingrich said. "There’s a very sharp difference here between Gov. Romney and myself. Gov. Romney signed a health care bill, which provided for the state of Massachusetts to pay for abortions.”

He added that Romney also signed a provision that put Planned Parenthood on the board that decides on payments in the health system.

He also brought up his support for gun rights. "I am a deep, passionate believer in the Second Amendment. The right to bear arms comes to us from God and comes to us before the Constitution," Gingrich said. "I will do everything I can to protect your right as outlined in the Constitution, but coming from our creator."

Gingrich participated from northern Virginia in the tele-town hall with Iowans. He answered questions for about 50 minutes and used the call as an opportunity to recruit caucus volunteers.