The attacks from a pro-Newt Gingrich group on Mitt Romney as a “corporate raider” echo similar charges made by an old Romney opponent: the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).
The Democratic icon made startlingly similar arguments when he faced Romney in a 1994 Senate race. Kennedy ended up winning reelection.
The pro-Gingrich group is running ads that criticize Romney's years at Bain Capital, the private-equity fund he once headed.
The ads run by the pro-Gingrich group use footage from an anti-Romney documentary, including testimonials from workers in Marion, Ind., who were laid off when their company was bought by Bain.
“You're going to be on a hit list, you know that,” one says in a trailer for the movie.
“It hurt so bad to leave my home because of one man who has 15 homes,” says another.
Kennedy’s campaign also used footage of workers who said Romney had cost them their jobs. In Kennedy’s ads, one worker said Romney “basically cut our throats,” while another said “he’s cut our wages to put money back in his pocket.”
Gingrich has defended the new ads, saying he was glad to have the support from the outside group.
Many Republicans are worried that the attacks will hurt Romney in the general election by reinforcing an argument Democrats have made for months.
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