Gingrich: Romney 'Insensitive to Religious Freedom'

(Photo: Reuters/Brian Snyder)
Republican presidential candidates (L-R) former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and U.S Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) stand for the national anthem before the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville, Florida January 26, 2012.

By Katherine Weber , Christian Post Reporter

January 31, 2012|3:40 pm

In a recent attack, which critics are calling the most bloodthirsty GOP campaign they have seen in years, Newt Gingrich has accused Mitt Romney of following in President Barack Obama's footsteps – threatening America's religious freedom by pushing for a secularized government.

The jab happened Monday, when Gingrich, a converted Catholic, told Fox News' Bret Baier, "I think Gov. Romney is extraordinarily insensitive to religious freedom in America and the Obama administration is clearly engaged in a war on religion."

Gingrich referenced Romney's previous career as a Massachusetts governor, when he chose to cut Medicaid funding to health care services that benefited Jewish and Catholic facilities.

Romney shot back at Gingrich, telling Fox News Monday that Gingrich's comments reflect his second place position at Florida polls.

"It's really sad. In some respects I think it's painfully revealing that [Gingrich] is having a really hard time."

Monday's last Public Policy Polling statistic before Tuesday's Florida primary had Romney leading Gingrich 39 percent to 31 percent.

A statistic provided by Kantar Media's Campaign Media Analysis Group and cited in The New York Times indicates that 92 percent of all campaign commercials run in the final week leading up to Florida primary were negative.

Gingrich is not the only guilty candidate. Romney sponsored an advertisement titled "History Lesson," which seeks to point out Gingrich's alleged 1997 ethics violations.

Critics agree that the current GOP elections have produced the most negative competition that anyone can remember.

As Kenneth Goldstein, president of Kantar Media CMAG told The Daily Beast, "This primary season is the most negative it's ever been."

"I have absolutely never seen television advertising so negative in a Republican presidential primary."

With Florida's Republican presidential primary due Tuesday, Jan. 31, both Romney and Gingrich have set up their respective primary night celebrations. Romney's campaign will be in Tampa, Fla., while Gingrich will set up camp with supporters in Orlando when the polls close at 8 p.m.