Gingrich Defends Stances in GOP

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Republican presidential candidates began delivering their closing arguments at the final debate of the year here on Thursday night, with the rivals trying to whittle away at the credibility of Newt Gingrich, who forcefully disputed the assertion from some conservatives that he could not defeat President Obama.


“Barack Obama will not have a leg to stand on in trying to defend a record that is terrible and an ideology that is radical,” Mr. Gingrich said, noting that people initially suggested Ronald Reagan also was unelectable. He added: “People have to watch my career and decide. I spent 16 years working to create the first Republican majority in 40 years.”


With only a week remaining before the campaign takes a momentary pause for the Christmas holiday, the Fox News moderators challenged the contenders to outline why they could not only win over Republicans, but could also appeal to all voters to accomplish the party’s ultimate goal of winning back the White House.


Seven candidates—Mr. Romney, Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.—began making a final pitch to Iowa voters before the holidays.


Mr. Gingrich was forced to defend his role as a well-paid adviser to the mortgage giant Freddie Mac. In 2007, he had praised the role of a government-sponsored enterprise like Freddie only to castigate congressional Democrats for their support of the same firm.


Those Democrats, he said, were elected officials in power. "I was a private citizen engaged in a business like any other business," Mr. Gingrich said. He also said he wouldn't "step back from the idea that in fact we should have as a goal helping as many Americans as possible be capable of buying homes."


Ms. Bachmann pronounced herself shocked at Mr. Gingrich's stance. "We cannot have as our nominee someone who continues to stand with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae," she said.


Mr. Gingrich accused her of hurling "wild allegations."


The leading candidates, who have done relatively little retail campaigning, now have less than three weeks to meet Iowans and build the organizations they will need to help supporters navigate the caucus process.


The campaigns are now saturating Iowa's airwaves with advertisements. On Thursday, Messrs. Gingrich, Romney and Perry unveiled new ads, all with different tacks. After drubbing Mr. Gingrich for days as an "unreliable" conservative, Mr. Romney turned positive with an ad proclaiming, "It is a moral responsibility to believe in fiscal responsibility."


Mr. Perry stayed on the attack, labeling both Messrs. Gingrich and Romney "political insiders" responsible for "reckless spending and high taxes."


And Mr. Gingrich tried to keep his candidacy above the fray. "We want and deserve solutions," he said in his new ad. "Others seems to be more focused on attacks, rather than moving the country forward."


A Rasmussen Research poll of Iowa GOP voters released Thursday gave fresh evidence that the contest is up for grabs. Mr. Gingrich, who has had double-digit leads in recent polls, came in second in the survey at 20%, behind Mr. Romney's 23% and ahead of Mr. Paul's 18%. The poll might be an outlier, but it indicates the contest remains fluid.


After steering clear of South Carolina, where Mr. Gingrich holds a commanding lead in recent polls, Mr. Romney will begin a campaign swing through the state beginning Friday. The winner of South Carolina has gone on to win the Republican nomination since its inception in 1980.