Gingrich asks Florida GOP to allocate delegates proportionally

By: Sarah Huisenga
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Newt Gingrich's campaign on Thursday confirmed it will ask the Florida Republican Party to allocate its delegates proportionally rather than allowing Mitt Romney to receive all 50 of the state's representatives at the Republican National Convention.

Speaking to reporters following a Hispanic Leadership Roundtable in Las Vegas, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said the campaign would be sending a letter to the Florida GOP.

The Republican National Committee "sent out rules last winter and stated any contest held before a certain date must award its delegates proportionally," Hammond told reporters. "Florida moved its [primary] inside of this date. So therefore we're asking the state party of Florida to enforce the existing rules which state they must award their delegates proportionally."

Asked if they would be contesting the state's allocation process had Gingrich won in Florida, Hammond replied, "Probably not."

In response to the newly raised questions about Florida's winner-take-all status, the Republican Party of Florida put out a statement from chairman Lenny Curry explaining that a rule unanimously passed by its executive board unequivocally stated that Florida would be winner-take-all "if the primary date was moved by statute and Florida was penalized by RNC for the move."

"Florida was winner-take-all before Election Day, we were winner-take-all on Election Day, we will remain winner-take-all," the statement read.

In response to the Gingrich campaign's recent efforts to challenge the ruling, Curry wrote, "It is a shame when the loser of a contest agrees to the rules before, then cries foul after losing."

Sarah Huisenga
Sarah Huisenga is covering the Mitt Romney campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by ibmpete-2009 February 5, 2012 12:05 AM EST: I was a bigger man than Newt is when I was twelve. What a truly big fat sad joke! Maybe we should split up those SC votes too Newt! Figures lie and liars figure. If this is agreed to I will leave this Republican party and join a truly independent party. He is a DC insider and if he get his way we know the GOP system is corrupt. He can't be Obama, he needs my vote. He now will never get it!; Reply to this comment


by real_patriot February 3, 2012 10:49 AM EST: Ah Teapublican right wing I came for the primaries and the measured thoughtful discipline of the debates -- stayed for the LOLs.

"Comedy gold Jerry comedy gold"; Reply to this comment


by scruthut February 3, 2012 8:57 AM EST: Does he stink he is running for President or Emperor? No, it was not a typo....; Reply to this comment


by Jhihmoac February 3, 2012 1:17 AM EST: Here we go with the sore loser tantrums again - SHEESH!; Reply to this comment


by imnho February 3, 2012 1:00 AM EST: At 68 he may feel the he will be to old to run in four years. This is his last shot at being President. He is basically going for broke and if he fails to get the nomination he will just pull his part down with him. It would be folish for him to take it all the way to the convention if he looses on super tuesday. It would not be suprise if he did so much damage that the GOP went to defeat. His own party would wind up hating him, but I doubt if he would care.

This is all about a politcal sociaopath on a power trip.; Reply to this comment


by boatdocster February 2, 2012 10:45 PM EST: Perhaps if he had brought this up BEFORE the election...

Neutered - Poor Loser!; Reply to this comment


by micmac666 February 2, 2012 9:31 PM EST: What a brilliant strategician. "Check".; Reply to this comment


by Jaylah54 February 2, 2012 8:26 PM EST: Sour grapes, Newty. Take your plastic, helmet-head Barbie wife and go home.; Reply to this comment

by citizen-dave February 2, 2012 7:35 PM EST

What a Maroon.

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by micmac666 February 2, 2012 9:26 PM EST: Macaroon.


by mortonedwards February 2, 2012 7:26 PM EST: This is the ultimate cry baby strategy. You will take all the delegates, if you win. But if you lose, then you try to change the rules retroactively to get some of them.

Isn't it funny that Gingrich won't give up some of the delegates he won in a winner-take-all primary in South Carolina?; Reply to this comment