Newt Gingrich continued his assault of GOP front-runner Mitt Romney during an national television appearance Monday, arguing that the former Massachusetts governor's time at Bain Capital was defined by bankruptcies and layoffs.
"They apparently looted the companies, left people unemployed and walked off with millions of dollars," Gingrich said on NBC's "Today." "Look, I'm for capitalism, I'm for people who go in to save a company. ... If somebody comes in, takes all the money out of your company, and then leaves you bankrupt while they go off with millions, that's not traditional capitalism."
Gingrich said that, while he had not yet seen a new super-PAC ad that denounces Romney as a "corporate raider," he's likely to support its message.
"I haven't seen the film yet, I suspect I will — I've read about it, but what I've read about it said that it's based upon historical facts," Gingrich said. "I think at some point, Gov. Romney is going to have to hold a press conference and walk through, with considerable detail, some of the companies that Bain took over where they apparently looted the company, left people totally unemployed and walked off with millions of dollars."
Gingrich also dismissed strong polling for Romney ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, noting that Romney owns a vacation home in the state, served as governor of neighboring Massachusetts and has focused resources on winning that primary.
"This is his third best state after Utah and Massachusetts," Gingrich said, adding that Romney has been "buying advertising [in the state] since 1997."
But the former Speaker called Romney's position "precarious," based on recent polling.
"If he were not to win here, if it's very, very close and it's been sliding around for days, it's a defeat for him," Gingrich said.
