Gingrich Sees Opening for Romney in Debate

Former Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich thinks Mitt Romney can score a major campaign victory with a strong debate performance Wednesday.

 

In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday night, the former House speaker also expressed his disgust with President Barack Obama’s handling of the killings of four Americans in Libya last month.

 

“If Romney is firm and direct and clear, I think that Obama has a very real likelihood of coming out of this debate with people finally understanding how big the decision is and how big the choice is,” Gingrich said, with regard to the debate. “At that point we'll be in a totally new election.”

 

Romney can easily take Obama to task over his administration’s handling of the economy, Gingrich said.

 

“I would say that the opportunity is greater for Romney than for Obama,” he said. “And it will be interesting to watch Obama confront somebody.

 

“I think part of the reason you see the campaign in the doldrums a little bit is that people want somebody who's going to stand and fight,” Gingrich said. “Margaret Thatcher used to say: First you win the argument, then you win the vote. That’s I think the challenge that Romney faces.”

 

As for Libya, the White House has been lying, according to Gingrich.

 

“President Obama has almost a psychological need to be totally blind to the realities of Islamic extremism,” he said. “It is astonishing to me how consistently he rejects all information, which would teach him that there are people out there who actually want to kill us. It's almost as though as he has a desperate need to believe in something which is totally false.”