Gingrich, Romney attack each other on foreclosures

Published: Thursday, Jan. 26 2012 6:55 p.m. MST

Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, take part in a Republican presidential debate Monday Jan. 23, 2012, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.

Associated Press

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Summary

Rivals Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are trading barbs over their income from mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Rivals Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are trading barbs over their income from mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In Thursday's debate in Florida, Gingrich criticized Romney's investment in mutual funds that included the lenders, as well as Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs.

Gingrich says Romney is profiting from home foreclosures that plague Florida, and he's asking how much of Romney's personal fortune came from those foreclosures.

Romney defends the investments, saying his blind trust handles his finances and that Gingrich himself owns mutual funds that also invest in the quasi-government lenders.

Romney also is criticizing Gingrich for his paychecks as a consultant to the lender that some blame for the housing crisis.

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