Front runners ratchet jaw Florida to death

Muddy comments on dishonest dealings fly


Governor Mitt Romney continues to hold his lead in polls gauging the mood of Republicans going into the Florida primary.

All 50 delegates are up for grabs in the southern swing state, an anomaly packed with ultra-liberal Democratic retirees from the northeast as both front-running candidates continue to pelt each other with allegations of dishonesty.

Said former House Speaker New Gingrich, "He would say thing after thing after thing that just plain wasn't true," Gingrich said of the former Massachusetts governor in reference to last Thursday debate's on CNN. "I don't know how you debate a person with civility if they're prepared to say things that are just plain factually false. "

In particular, Gingrich cited Romney's claim that he had never voted for a Democrat when a Republican was on the ballot, including Romney's support for Democrat Paul Tsongas in the 1992 Massachusetts presidential primary.

The former Massachusetts Governor continues to hammer on a $300,000 ethics penalty Mr. Gingrich paid at the end of his run as Speaker when he agreed to pay for the costs of an investigation into his dealings with campaign contributions.

Romney's campaign responded that Gingrich, a historian, was trying to "rewrite history."

"He admitted to violating House rules and providing false and misleading information to the ethics committee," said an e-mail from Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul. "He released a statement saying he was wrong and agreed to pay a $300,000 penalty. He said, 'My actions did not reflect creditably on the House of Representatives.' Nearly 90% of House Republicans agreed."

At a Naples, Florida, campaign event Sunday, Romney touted his debate performances in Florida, drawing cheers by asking: "Wasn't that a hoot?