THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney vowed resilience in the wake of a heavy loss in South Carolina, telling supporters that he would campaign as an unabashed champion of free enterprise and accusing Newt Gingrich of adopting "the weapons of the Left".
Speaking at the end of a week which saw a 10-point lead give way to a 12-point loss, the former Massachusetts governor showed a new level of aggression towards Mr Gingrich, who[m] he compared repeatedly to President Barack Obama.
Without uttering his rival's name, Mr Romney said: "President Obama has no experience running a business and no experience running a state. Our party can’t be led to victory by somebody who also has never run a business and never run a state."
He said that the Obama administration had attacked America's capitalist system but accused of Mr Gingrich of having "joined in that very assault on free enterprise".
"Those who pick up the weapons of the Left today will find them turned against us tomorrow," he warned.
“Let me be clear: If Republican leaders want to join this president in demonizing success and disparaging conservative values then they’re not going to be fit to be our nominee.” » | Raf Sanchez, Washington | Sunday, January 22, 2012
