Romney allies assail Gingrich in new ad in Iowa

[December 09, 2011]  AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Allies of Mitt Romney are going up on the air with a blistering 60-second TV ad in Iowa that assails Newt Gingrich on a host of fronts culminating in what it calls "30 years in Washington flip-flopping on issues."

A script of the ad running Friday says that, quote, "Newt has a ton of baggage."

The ad says the former House speaker was once fined for ethics violations, and notes that after leaving office he collected at least $1.6 million from federally backed mortgage lender Freddie Mac.

The ad also accuses Gingrich of earning $37 million from health care industry groups, and says he supports amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The ad comes from the political action committee Restore Our Future, run by former staffers of Romney's 2008 presidential bid.

[Associated Press; By KASIE HUNT]

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