Texas Rep. and GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul released a harsh attack ad Wednesday evening against Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker and a fellow GOP candidate.
The ad, available to journalists through a “private” YouTube link, hit Gingrich for numerous allegedly contradictory statements about individual health care mandates, his involvement with Fannie and Freddie Mac, and Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan.
The Web ad uses quotes from media outlets and commentators including ABC News, the Los Angeles Times, MSNBC’s Ed Schultz, Fox Business Network’s Gerri Willis and conservative radio talked Rush Limbaugh — and numerous statements from Gingrich himself.
The Paul campaign says it is working to prove that Gingrich is not a consistent conservative.
“Our campaign is making a bold move to debunk the myth that the Newt we are seeing on the 2012 campaign trail is the conservative he has been touted to be all along,” said Paul national campaign chairman Jesse Benton.
“This step we are taking is necessary, as voters are seeking authenticity among conservatives who are able to show a decades-long career of consistently walking the walk of Constitutional principles, limited government, and promoting sound money and economic policy,” Benton continued. “Ron Paul is the only Republican presidential candidate with that record.”
The Gingrich campaign defended Newt’s conservative record, but refrained from mentioning Paul — instead taking a shot at GOP candidate Mitt Romney.
“No candidate in the race has achieved more conservative reform of government or spent more time and energy championing the cause of the conservative movement than Newt Gingrich, which is why voters across the country are choosing Newt over Mitt Romney,” Gingrich campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond said when asked for comment.
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