Free Republic

Why is he doing this? Is his campaign really that incompetent? Having successfully shut down scrutiny in the primaries (but not the general election) of his Bain record with unfounded cries of “Newt’s attacking capitalism and free markets,” Romney is back to what started it all, the demand that Newt give back the money he lawfully earned through consulting with Freddie Mac. As Morrissey notes, Newt’s campaign already has diffused another line of Romney’s Freddie Mac attack, quickly asking for the release of his consulting contract before the Florida primary. Romney will go on the offensive at tonight’s debate demanding...

GILBERT, S.C. — Mitt Romney and a top surrogate called for Newt Gingrich, Romney's chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination, to release the House Ethics Committee report that led to a reprimand of Gingrich and a $300,000 fine. After Romney was pressed on his tax returns, Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) stepped in and interrupted Romney. "The people of South Carolina are not talking about tax returns. They're not. They're talking about jobs, spending and the economy," she said before taking a shot at Gingrich, who is neck and neck with Romney in recent polls of South Carolina. "In all...