NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Thursday swatted away allegations that he once sought an open marriage, using a fiery debate among a smaller field of GOP presidential candidates to allay concerns over his character before the South Carolina primary. “I am appalled you would begin a presidential debate with a topic like that,” Gingrich told CNN debate moderator John King, calling the accusation “false” and labeling the questioning “as close to despicable as anything I can imagine.”
In an interview that aired Thursday night, Marianne Gingrich, the former Georgia congressman’s second wife, accused him of seeking permission for an extramarital affair with his current wife, Callista Gingrich.
Gingrich got a standing ovation for his scolding of the moderator, effectively turning the question into a critique of the mainstream media as his Republican rivals gave him a pass on the issue.
After that intense opening salvo to the final debate before Saturday’s primary, Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas turned their attacks on each other.
The race for the Palmetto State has tightened in recent days, as Gingrich has siphoned support from front-runner Romney with strong debate showings here.
Santorum, who needs to win over the same voters responsible for Gingrich’s rise in the polls, painted the Georgian as too unstable to lead the GOP against President Obama this fall.
“Grandiosity has never been a problem with Newt Gingrich,” Santorum said, responding to Gingrich’s suggestion that he leave the race so conservatives could unite behind one candidate against Romney. “I don’t want a nominee where I’m going to have to worry about what he says next.”
For much of this week, Romney has quietly organized similar attacks against Gingrich, painting him as a bombastic figure who derailed the conservative movement while disputing the former speaker’s self-portrait as a leader of the revolution headed by former President Reagan.
“I went through the Reagan diary,” Romney told Gingrich. “You’re mentioned once.”
The former Massachusetts governor’s campaign aides concede that their internal polls show the pair in a dead heat for a state that traditionally picks the Republican presidential nominee.
The Romney camp has struggled to respond to requests for his tax records in recent days — stoking questions about income the wealthy businessman earned while at Bain Capital.
“If there’s nothing in there, why not release it?” Gingrich asked.
Romney said he would release this year’s tax returns around April, which he said has been customary in previous presidential contests.
When asked why he wouldn’t release past records all at once, Romney replied, “Because I want to be sure I beat President Obama.” He added, “I’m not going to apologize for being successful.”
Gingrich received a boost in his bid to win over social conservatives when Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the race earlier in the day and endorsed his candidacy.
Santorum argued that a vote for either Gingrich or Romney would prove a losing proposition for Republicans, highlighting Romney’s Bay State health care plan and Gingrich’s previous support for an individual mandate.
“These are two folks who don’t present the clear contrast that I do,” Santorum said, accusing the pair of “playing footsies with the left.”
The four remaining GOP candidates will crisscross the state Friday before voters head to the polls Saturday for the crucial first-in-the-South primary.
