Gingrich assailed by Iowa debate rivals, fights back

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich clashed sharply with one rival, took pains to compliment another and said it was laughable for any of them to challenge his conservative credentials Thursday night in the last campaign debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses kick off the 2012 primary season.

In a forceful attack, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said Gingrich “had his hand out and received $1.6 million to influence senior Republicans and keep the scam going in Washington, D.C.,” for Freddie Mac, a government-backed housing entity.

“Just not true,” Gingrich shot back. “I never lobbied under any circumstances,” he added, denying an allegation she had not made.

The clash underscored the state of race, with Gingrich, the former House speaker, atop the polls in Iowa and nationally, while Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his other pursuers work in television ads and elsewhere to overtake him in the final days before the caucuses.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who has staked his campaign on Iowa, was quick to challenge Gingrich as a conservative leader. He recalled that Gingrich had to contend with a “conservative revolution’ from the ranks of Republican lawmakers when he was House speaker in the 1990s.

Romney, who runs second in the polls in Iowa, largely refrained from criticism Gingrich, despite increasingly barbed attacks in day-to-day campaigning. Instead, he firmly rejected suggestions that he had once favored gay marriage only to switch his position. “I have been a champion of protecting traditional marriage,” he said.

Given the stakes, Gingrich, Bachmann and Santorum weren’t the only contenders eager to impress Iowa voters and a nationwide television audience with their conservative grit.

“I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses,” said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, referring to the Denver Broncos quarterback whose passing ability draws ridicule but who has led his team to a remarkable seven wins in eight weeks.

“We’re getting (a raw deal) as Americans,” said former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, insisting that he, in fact, was a steadier conservative than any of the others on stage.

“Anybody up here could beat Obama,” said Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, whose views verge on libertarianism and who has struggled to expand his appeal.

And Bachmann, who was quicker than any other candidate to criticize a rival, bristled when challenged repeatedly on the accuracy of her facts. “I am a serious candidate for president of the United States, and my facts are accurate,” she said.

Tags: election 2012, newt gingrich, mitt romney, ron paul, michele bachman, rick santorum, news, national, debate, republicans, updates