In Iowa, Romney joins in attacks on Gingrich

Chris Christie, Mitt Romney
In this file photo, Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during an October press conference in New Hampshire.
AP Photo/Stephan Savoia

By KASIE HUNT, Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Mitt Romney is aggressively attacking rival Newt Gingrich as the former House speaker rises in the polls.

Romney's campaign on Thursday was set to point out a series of issues in Gingrich's record on a conference call with Republican former Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri and former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu. In a release, the Romney campaign attacked remarks Gingrich made criticizing Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan's plan for the federal budget.

Gingrich once referred to Ryan's plan, popular among many fiscal conservatives, as ``right-wing social engineering.''

It's a significant shift in strategy. Romney's campaign has not previously criticized Gingrich head-on. The moves show that with Iowa's caucuses drawing near, Romney views Gingrich as a significant threat to his chances of winning the Republican nomination. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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