Newt Rebuffs ‘Character’ Question

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At a campaign event in South Carolina a questioner asked Newt Gingrich to reassure him about his “character” issues and “lapses in personal judgment.” Though he didn’t mention the word, “Marianne,” certain hecklers in the crowd began to berate the questioner, even as he stressed he had “great personal respect” for Newt, and was only asking for his assurance that he would be able to get away from these issues were he to become the nominee.

“I think that’s a decision you have to make,” Newt replied. “I’ve been very open about my life, I’ve been very open about mistakes that I’ve made, I’ve been very open about the need to go to god.”

Newt said he and his wife had debated for a long time whether to run for President, knowing that “smears” would be coming. However, he concluded, in the end they decided “the country is worth the pain.”

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