Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, made his case to South Carolina voters Thursday night, capturing the spotlight in one of the most important Republican presidential debates to date.
Mr. Gingrich, who trailed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in recent polls, is quickly gaining momentum as Republican voters in the state continue to consider whether to support Mr. Romney.
Speaking Thursday, Mr. Gingrich took direct aim at the media, opening a line of attack that would last throughout the night.
“I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that,” said Mr. Gingrich, his face flush with anger, when asked about an ABC interview with his ex-wife in the opening question of a two-hour debate on CNN.
“Every person in here knows personal pain,” Mr. Gingrich added. “Every person in here has had someone close to them go through painful things. To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine.”
“Let me be quite clear. The story is false,” said Mr. Gingrich.
In the ABC report, Mr. Gingrich’s second wife, Marianne Gingrich, broke a long silence to say that he had asked her to grant him an “open marriage” so he could maintain an extramarital relationship with a House aide, Callista Bisek, who later became his third wife. Mr. Gingrich’s two adult daughters said that charges by the Georgia Republican’s second wife are categorically false.
The debate capped a strange day on the campaign trail, which saw Texas Republican Governor Rick Perry suspend his campaign and endorse Mr. Gingrich. The endorsement came just minutes before ABC announced it would air its interview, spurring questions as to whether Mr. Perry would continue to support the Georgia Republican.
In a statement, Mr. Perry said he remains committed to supporting Mr. Gingrich’s bid for president, noting that character flaws are inevitable.
“Newt is not perfect but who among us is,” said Mr. Perry said as he bowed out of the race, seeking to provide Gingrich with some political cover in a state filled with evangelicals likely to cringe at Mr. Gingrich’s two divorces and acknowledged infidelity.
