Gingrich: Only I can go 'toe to toe' with Obama

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Jan. 22 2012 7:40 a.m. MST

Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks during a South Carolina Republican presidential primary night rally, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Columbia, S.C. Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary.

Matt Rourke, Associated Press

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Summary

Newt Gingrich says his hardline conservative views and sharp debate skills will be needed by Republicans to take back the White House.

WASHINGTON — Newt Gingrich says his hardline conservative views and sharp debate skills will be needed by Republicans to take back the White House.

The former House speaker is dismissing rival Mitt Romney as a moderate whose record on health care and other issues are too close to President Barack Obama's to invigorate GOP voters.

Coming off a big victory in Saturday's South Carolina primary, Gingrich says he can go "toe to toe with President Obama on big things."

Gingrich says his views on lower taxes, less government regulation and foreign policy put him in stark contrast to Obama and that the dynamics of a Gingrich-Obama fight are much more alluring to voters.

Gingrich tells CNN's "State of the Union" that he represents "the largest amount of change of any candidate."

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