Tampa, Fla.

In the run-up to the South Carolina primary, Newt Gingrich attacked Mitt Romney’s record at Bain Capital as “exploitative” and “not defensible.” But following Monday night’s debate, a Gingrich aide seemed to back off the Bain attacks, saying that Romney’s work in private equity was an honorable thing–at least as honorable as Gingrich’s work for Freddie Mac.

Gingrich’s work for Freddie Mac came under fire Monday night, after Romney released a new ad about Gingrich’s $1.6 million contract with the government-sponsored enterprise that helped cause the housing market collapse. Details of Gingrich’s contract released Monday night revealed that the former speaker had reported to Freddie Mac’s chief lobbyist.