Newt Gingrich promises to run positive campaign

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

One day after engaging in a round of testy exchanges with rival Mitt Romney, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is instructing his staff to keep his campaign positive.

Gingrich sent a letter to his staff, consultants and campaign surrogates Tuesday saying, "We will run a positive campaign focused on our country's future."

Gingrich said that the public deserves a "respectful and constructive" campaign, adding that "It is critical the Republican nominee emerge from this primary campaign un-bloodied, so that he or she can make the case against President Obama from a position of strength."

The candidate said his campaign will not run any negative advertising, and he asked his surrogates not to contribute to any super PACs that run negative ads against other Republicans. He also urged them to avoid initiating any attacks on Republican candidates themselves.

In a speech in New Hampshire on Monday, Gingrich said he would "publicly disown" any super PAC who attacked his Republican rivals on his behalf, CBS News/ National Journal correspondent Sarah Huisenga reports.

Romney has also promised to avoid "outrageous" comments about his GOP rivals, but both Romney and Gingrich yesterday took swipes at each other. After Romney called on Gingrich to return the millions he made working for Freddie Mac, Gingrich attacked Romney for "bankrupting companies" when he led the private equity firm Bain.

Gingrich addressed yesterday's verbal jousting in his letter to his staff and supporters, saying, "I have refrained from launching attacks on my Republican opponents, though I have reserved the right to respond when my record has been distorted. On Monday this occurred when Governor Romney and I engaged in what in diplomatic circles is called 'a frank exchange' over our respective records in the private sector."

Gingrich applauded Romney for also promising to avoid negative attacks.

[Giarretti]

Ron Paul's racist history would guarantee Obama another term. People are uninformed.

Quote from a Ron Paul newsletter in the early 1990's:

"Boy, it sure burns me to have a national holiday for Martin Luther
King. I voted against this outrage time and time again as a Congressman.
What an infamy that Ronald Reagan approved it! We can thank him for our
annual Hate Whitey Day."

And a couple of comments he has made:

"opinion polls consistently show only about 5% of blacks have sensible political opinions"

"Homosexuals, not to speak of the rest of society, were far better off
when social pressure forced them to hide their activities."

Now how do ya think that would work with Ron Paul running against Obama?

[Giarretti]

Ron Paul's racist history would guarantee Obama another term. People are uninformed.

Quote from a Ron Paul newsletter in the early 1990's:

"Boy, it sure burns me to have a national holiday for Martin Luther
King. I voted against this outrage time and time again as a Congressman.
What an infamy that Ronald Reagan approved it! We can thank him for our
annual Hate Whitey Day."

And a couple of comments he has made:

"opinion polls consistently show only about 5% of blacks have sensible political opinions"

"Homosexuals, not to speak of the rest of society, were far better off
when social pressure forced them to hide their activities."

Now how do ya think that would work with Ron Paul running against Obama?

[Jerry23443]

He doesn't want to fling mud because it would turn around and hit him in the face. Yea I don't want to run a negative campaign...oh look my opponents are flinging mud at me saying I'm a hypocrite!

[magik1369]

What is truly amazing and symptomatic of the deep soul sickness and psychopathology in the republican party is that a proven liar and womanizer like Gingrinch is even in the running for POTUS. This man is certainly character flawed more than most. He has a record of lies and corruption that would make Dick Nixon blush. Republicans obviously do not care who they elect and they prove time and time again that their narcissism obscures their perception and makes them very poor judges of character. These are people that actually listen to Bill O'Reilly. A healthy, sane person can immediately tell that O'Reilly is a sick, bigoted, and mentally ill individual.

[cntrygirl3]

He is the front runner, he can afford this and he is trying to make people shut up about him, especially the ones who worked with him in Washington in the house. I haven't heard a single republican congressman who served under him say anything good about him. The best line was Ron Paul accusing Newty of "serial hypocrisy"

[Kev117]

"Newt Gingrich promises to run positive campaign", yet he freely and onstantly attacks Democratic voters and values.

This is not a winning strategy, it is a moneymaking strategy. What book sellers do to sell books to the Republucan base, not what presidential hopefuls do to win elections.

He's bother fraud in it for the money,mlike Palin and Huckabee. Bet he ends up with a TV show on FOX.