Gingrich calls Romney a liar

Newt Gingrich today is calling Mitt Romney a liar, just hours before Iowa voters cast their ballots for a GOP presidential nominee.

In an interview with CBS, the former House speaker was asked specifically if he believes his GOP rival is a liar. Gingrich has been pummeled in recent weeks on Iowa airwaves by negative ads, many of them funded by a pro-Romney group.

“Yes,” Gingrich told Norah O’Donnell of CBS. When the question was repeated, Gingrich replied: “Well, you seem shocked by it. Yes.”

Later, in an interview with Fox News, Gingrich said Romney “fails to tell the truth” when it comes to his record as Massachusetts governor and about Restore Our Future, the independent “super PAC” that has spent more than $3 million on Iowa advertising. A recent analysis shows nearly half of all the ads in Iowa are negative spots directed at Gingrich.

“I wish he’d be honest with the American people,” Gingrich said, adding that negativity is “a terrible way to run for office.”

Gingrich repeated his vow to be more direct at making contrasts with Romney and his other rivals, yet still run a positive campaign. He said the eventual GOP nominee “had better be tough and tell the truth” in the general election against President Obama, who will be well funded and have the support of his Democratic allies.

And what if he’s not the GOP nominee? Could he support Romney?

“If he’s the nominee, I’ll support him,” Gingrich told Fox News.

USA Today