Newt Gingrich has attacked the media over allegations from a former wife as Republican presidential candidates attacked each other in a debate two days before the South Carolina primary.
The former House speaker, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum all found themselves on the defensive at a debate that was the final chance for rivals to chip away at front-runner Mr Romney's lead in South Carolina.
Mr Gingrich rejected charges from former wife Marianne Gingrich, who accused him this week of asking her for an "open marriage" when he was having an affair.
"I think the disruptive, vicious, negative nature of the news media makes it harder to govern this country," Mr Gingrich fumed. "I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that."
Eager to upset the front-runner, Mr Gingrich released his most recent tax returns, a reminder that the multi-millionaire Mr Romney still had not produced his own.
Mr Romney pledged to release his own taxes in April and looked aggravated when there was a smattering of boos from the crowd. "I'm not going to apologise for being successful," he said.
The former Massachusetts governor will take a huge step toward claiming the Republican nomination if he wins tomorrow after his New Hampshire win on January 10th and his near-victory in Iowa on January 3rd.
Mr Santorum, who learned yesterday he won the Iowa caucuses on January 3rd by 34 votes, went into the campaign looking to tear down his rivals in South Carolina.
He gave a blistering critique of Mr Gingrich's tenure as House speaker, calling him "grandiose" and suggesting he has behaved erratically when asked to respond to Mr Gingrich's claim that Mr Santorum lacks the ability to perform as a political leader on a grand scale.
"I don't want a nominee that I have to worry about going out and looking at the paper the next day and . . . worrying about what he's going to say next," Mr Santorum said.
Reuters