Gingrich to throw down debate gauntlet
March 5th, 2012
11:43 AM ET
11 years ago

Gingrich to throw down debate gauntlet

(CNN) – Newt Gingrich will challenge his rivals for the GOP presidential nomination to a debate next week, the former House speaker said Monday.

Gingrich said he expects to extend the invitation Tuesday for a forum in Mississippi or Alabama, where voters head to the polls on March 13.

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"I think we owe it to the people of Mississippi and Alabama to have a debate," Gingrich said on Fox News. "I think that frankly it's to everybody's advantage to have a debate."

He also used the impending invitation to single out Romney, the current Republican frontrunner.

"I don't think Romney can just hide behind millions of dollars of paid ads," Gingrich said. "He's got to come out in the open."

Gingrich, whose support in national polling has waned, experienced bumps nationally and state-wide following presidential debates earlier in the election cycle.

The former Georgia congressman is hoping a win in his home state on Tuesday will propel his campaign toward strong showings in other Southern states.


Filed under: 2012 • Alabama • Mississippi • Newt Gingrich
soundoff (30 Responses)
  1. Dwayne

    What a joke! Only Gingrich can benefit from a debate because he has returned to being a single digit candidate. 30 debates was enough.

    March 5, 2012 11:48 am at 11:48 am |
  2. shoegazer

    Newt's thrown down the gauntlet? I hope it's an all out free for all.Make it a battle royal,all four of them in the ring,over the top rope,last man standing gets the belt.Yeah,that'd be something to see.

    March 5, 2012 11:52 am at 11:52 am |
  3. Voltaire

    But Newt, didn't you hear that General Ann Romney said NO MORE DEBATES FOR HER HUSBAND????? Watch out Newt, reporters might not be the only people she's going to strangle. LOL Ann, what was it Freud wrote about words said in a joke?

    March 5, 2012 11:53 am at 11:53 am |
  4. Kathy

    Here is your golden opportunity to stand in for Mitt's debate, Ann. He needs that rest you were talking about.

    March 5, 2012 11:55 am at 11:55 am |
  5. Data Driven

    No one cares, Newt.

    March 5, 2012 11:58 am at 11:58 am |
  6. cali girl

    Best of luck with that. It may just be you standing up there to a crowd of crickets chirping.

    March 5, 2012 12:09 pm at 12:09 pm |
  7. Rudy NYC

    Newt's right. That's what front runners do. They do not debate those below them in the polls because they have nothing to at all to gain. Frankly, I'm shocked that Mitt Romney has participated in as many as he has. He should have bailed out long time ago. Maybe as far back as Rick Perry's "Oops" moment. The Cain implosion should have been definitely been it.

    March 5, 2012 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |
  8. The Real Tom Paine

    Newt who?

    March 5, 2012 12:13 pm at 12:13 pm |
  9. Jason

    Even Newt doesn't have the calibre for Lincoln-Douglas level debating. Newt yells at the moderater and Mitt answers only the questions he feels like answering. Stay classy GOP. The Alaskan Air Head was not the only GOP idiot whose comments was the gift that keep on giving.

    March 5, 2012 12:19 pm at 12:19 pm |
  10. Wes B.

    More debates? Seriously, haven't there been enough already?

    March 5, 2012 12:22 pm at 12:22 pm |
  11. Real Politics

    Romeny can't debate and has been hiding. No one has really attacked because he hovers when asked questions and the only reason he has been winning this election is because of his money. Obama will tear him up in the general election because Romney won't have anybody to point the fingers at except him. Obama: Mitt you supported earmarks when it came time for the winter olympics. Romney: uh, uh, uh (jeez I wish Santorum was here so I could hide behind him and make him look bad)...well it ended up being a good show.

    March 5, 2012 12:24 pm at 12:24 pm |
  12. Anonymous

    Quit wasting our time with Newt the Tool, CNN and reopen the Limbaugh items (or start new ones). This is not going away until he's gone.

    March 5, 2012 12:30 pm at 12:30 pm |
  13. G-nO-P

    It's Funny how Gingrinch always needs a debate .. so he can Promptly BASH whoever happens to be moderating the debate .. and when are the Moderators going to grow a SET and fire back at this weasle for DUCKING legitimate questions that they themselves discuss on the campaign trail, but villify the moderator for following up with on a debate ... and ENOUGH with this Stacking of the Audience with ' these ' Group Think Clowns" who boo in unison, whether its at a gay soldier defending his country in uniform or againsty women shoe have the audacity to expect equal healthcare access ....

    March 5, 2012 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |
  14. Rudy NYC

    Wes B. asked:

    More debates? Seriously, haven't there been enough already?
    -----------
    There are always new current events for them to address. People want to hear their opinions on current events, not just their self serving talking points and political spin.

    March 5, 2012 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |
  15. G-nO-P

    I say.. let the debates continue.... sunshine is the best disinfectant.. and when these guys are on stage, a LOT of DisInfectment is needed .!!

    March 5, 2012 12:33 pm at 12:33 pm |
  16. G-nO-P

    by the way.. I Gingrinch wants a debate.. BUT , will ANY OF the Cowards ALLOW Buddy Romer on the Debate stage .. you can tell who is in it for the money, when they won't let Buddy Romer in ... what a bunch a sheer GOP Cowards ...

    March 5, 2012 12:34 pm at 12:34 pm |
  17. David in FL

    Of course Newt wants a debate, its the only thing he can think to do to jumpstart himi out of single digits. He's still sore over that FL debate where he had his keester handed to him. If there is a debate it should be between Romney, Sanitorium, and Paul and leave gangrene home to enjoy his Georgia win.

    March 5, 2012 12:36 pm at 12:36 pm |
  18. Jamie from Riverside

    More debates! Why? Newt spends the time screaming at the moderator and villifying the media.
    If you want to do that just give us ANOTHER negative commercial paid for by your billionare sugar-daddy.

    March 5, 2012 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm |
  19. Political Dean

    Of course Newt wants to debate. He is running out of money and needs the free air time. The other candidates already have plans to be campaigning in other states- and to ask them to drop their plans to accomodate him is just stupid and desperate. Besides, I have heard him say "fundamentally" too many times already.

    March 5, 2012 12:39 pm at 12:39 pm |
  20. Scott

    "I don't think Romney can just hide behind millions of dollars of paid ads," Gingrich said. "He's got to come out in the open."

    Ummm.... Hasn't he appeared at every debate you've also been at??? And doesn't he hold public forums and public speeches? It sounds like he's already out there, you just can't hear him from ALLLLL the way down in the polls...

    March 5, 2012 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm |
  21. Rod from Chicago

    Why doesn't he just quit...?...big mouth, small moral, big liar, small ethics, fat head, skinny trustworthiness...need I go on? Once he's out, then ROmney better worry.

    March 5, 2012 12:48 pm at 12:48 pm |
  22. B

    It is Nuckle-heads like Gingrich that are attempting to take this country back to the Dark Ages of Social Justice and common sense.

    What a pathetic joke this guy is..

    March 5, 2012 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |
  23. GI Joe.

    so he can throw out some more of his self-loving blather?

    March 5, 2012 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |
  24. WhereIsPalin

    Mr Gingrich, the first debate question is for you. Please spell desperation for our viewers.

    March 5, 2012 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |
  25. T'sah from Virginia

    And the same question should be asked – Which candidate believes in birth control and if not, why? Romney, Santorum and Paul are not going to take the bate from a candidate that is at the bottom of the Polling-Pole!! ginGrinch is DONE and he knows it!!

    And on a previous blog...
    ►McCain: Limbaugh remarks 'totally unacceptable'◄
    Wow, everyone will come out NOW because Limbaugh's fate is inevitable
    Where were you yesterday when the remarks were full blown
    Hmm, contemplating hoping that it'll go away; it was never known

    Come on now – Too Late!!

    Reelecting President Obama is The Only Trusted Way Forward!!

    March 5, 2012 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |
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