Newt, Mitt Now in Dead Heat

Gingrich tells rivals to end 'reprehensible' attacks
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 20, 2011 3:09 AM CST
Updated Dec 20, 2011 5:30 AM CST
Newt, Mitt Now in Dead Heat: Poll
The front-runners smile before a debate.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Mitt Romney's support is at its highest since July, while Newt Gingrich's is fading, according to the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll. So the two candidates are now in a dead heat nationwide with 30% support each among Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, the poll found. Ron Paul—who is in first place in Iowa, according to the latest Public Policy Polling survey—has 15%. All the other Republican contenders polled in the single digits.

Gingrich, facing falling poll numbers and large numbers of attack ads in Iowa, slammed the "reprehensible" criticism from his rivals and urged them to "have the courage" to run positive campaigns, reports the Los Angeles Times. "It's candidly very disappointing to see some of my friends who are running put out so much negative junk," he said, promising to hold phone-in town hall meetings every day until the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses so voters can ask him about the claims being leveled by his rivals. (More Ron Paul stories.)

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