Against business? GOP split on Romney's practices

By Tom Raum

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Jan. 11 2012 1:51 p.m. MST

FILE - In this April 21, 1988 file photo, President Ronald Reagan speaks in Springfield, Mass. What gives? Some of Mitt Romney’s rivals are waging a fierce attack on him that you’d never think would come from the mouths of Republicans who claim Ronald Reagan as their hero. They’re blasting the GOP front-runner for aggressive wealth-creating business tactics, a criticism that has the party in an uproar.

Ron Edmonds, File, Associated Press

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Summary

Some of Mitt Romney's rivals are waging an attack on him you'd never think would come from Republicans who claim Ronald Reagan as their hero. They're blasting the GOP front-runner for aggressive, wealth-creating business tactics.

WASHINGTON — Some of Mitt Romney's rivals are waging an attack on him you'd never think would come from Republicans who claim Ronald Reagan as their hero. They're blasting the GOP front-runner for aggressive, wealth-creating business tactics.

The attacks, from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, didn't seem to matter much in New Hampshire. Romney claimed a comfortable primary victory there. Huntsman came in a distant third, Gingrich was fourth and Perry was sixth.

But the criticism may have more resonance in next-in-line South Carolina and in Florida. Both states are struggling with high joblessness and weak housing markets. South Carolina's primary is Jan. 21, Florida's is Jan. 31.

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