(CNN) – Presidential contender Newt Gingrich took harsh aim at rival Mitt Romney Monday, suggesting the former Massachusetts governor couldn't rally Republican support because he was being dishonest with voters.
"He can't close the deal. And he can't close the deal in part because people inherently don't trust what he's saying and think that he isn't always very candid with them. And sometimes frankly isn't straight," Gingrich said on CNN's "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien."
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The former House speaker said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who endorsed Romney Sunday, was another Washington insider falling in line for the GOP establishment pick.
"We would all like to have endorsements. But the fact is Romney is the Washington establishment candidate," Gingrich said. "It's true. If you look at where his money comes from, where most of the lobbyists lined up. So I think he goes around the country and he's legitimately collected most of the insiders. I like Eric Cantor, but he is sort of quintessentially part of the same group."
Romney's success thus far has been bolstered by his robust fundraising, Gingrich said, but he predicted an eventual drying up of campaign cash.
"I think the challenge is that Gov. Romney has had a huge amount of money, most from Wall Street and a great deal from companies that were bailed out by the taxpayer," Gingrich said. "But he has used that money very effectively first against me and then against Santorum. But he can't close the deal."
He continued, "It's not at all clear to me right now that Romney can get above a certain ceiling," he said. "And the question is whether or not ultimately his money starts to run out. It's very clear in any kind of relatively evenly-financed campaign Romney would not win."
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Is Newt still around? That paragon of virtue? And we sure trust him?
If there's one thing Gingrich knows about, it's dishonesty.
Newt is implying that if Romney can't bit him with all the baggage he hauls around, then, Romney can't possibly beat President Obama. Of course, it's only the hypocrisy of the GOP that can allow a man such as Newt to right on a family values platform. What an irony? Me think karma has come to roost on the GOP.
Gingrich: taking the ship down with him.
Ha! Gingrich (who hasn't finished above LAST PLACE in the last how many primaries and caucuses is saying someone else isn't closing the deal?!? He is saying it is due to honesty and ethics?!?
Is this real? This is made up, right?
None of these people can really close the deal. They all have some serious bagage. I don't think that any of them are going to be good enough to beat Obama because of their missteps.
Newt's an expert on dishonesty.
But gingrich…you can't even START the deal, so who are you to talk?!
Your jealousy over Romney's multiple wins and your failures, repeatedly coming in in fourth place, is really eating at ya, huh.
Why hasn't anyone mentioned Grover Norquist? Looks like he has some explaning to do hu? Tax trader,theft,used tax payers money to take lavish trips eat at fancy places. Google him and you will find out the truth about Mr.Norquist..Independent Voter, very concerned.
Newt is involved in the Grover Norquist scandles.
I just don't understand Newt. "If everyone else would drop out of the race, I could win this thing." Seriously? Is that a viable position? Do you think that would work with Obama? How does the third or fourth place candidate ask the ones ahead of him to drop out so he can win? How does the author of the report on "how to use divisive language when describing the other party" think he is going to have enough support to enact his vision. Every election we see the same story, about 50% of the country is democrat. Since Newt hates on moderates, too, I guess at least 80% of the country is more liberal than he is, and he thinks he can represent America's interests while demonizing 80% of the population? Why don't we draft him and send him to one of these wars in the middle east instead. Let him really serve his country.