Long Washington record starting to haunt Gingrich

WASHINGTON (AP) — Newt Gingrich's long political record and ties to Washington are coming back to haunt him four weeks before Iowa's leadoff Republican presidential caucuses.

In a radio interview Tuesday, the former House speaker was pressed to explain his past support of health care mandates, his belief in human-caused climate change, and his advocacy for certain government regulations. Those positions irk many conservatives.

A rival for the GOP nomination, Ron Paul, is rolling out a hard-hitting TV ad in Iowa that uses Gingrich's own words to accuse him of "serial hypocrisy."

His chief opponent, Mitt Romney, weighed in, too, telling Fox News that Gingrich is "the right guy" if voters want someone who has been a Washington insider for 40 years. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.