REP. STEVE KING: Gingrich Better Candidate Than Romney
By MB Snow at December 29, 2011 | 2:49 pm | Print
Although Iowa Rep. Steve King is holding back his coveted political endorsement with only days to go before his state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, he tells Newsmax that he almost certainly would choose former House Speaker Newt Gingrich over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Describing Gingrich as a “brilliant man, who generates all kinds of ideas,” King said pundits will be talking about Gingrich’s debate performances in future elections.
“I think a lot of Speaker Gingrich, and there would have to be some discipline on the myriad of ideas that he brings to the table. But that’s what Congress is for,” King said.
However, it is becoming less likely he will make a formal endorsement of any GOP presidential candidates before Tuesday’s caucuses, the conservative Republican told Newsmax in an exclusive interview today.
“We’re closing in fast on the Iowa caucuses, so it’s less likely today than it was yesterday, but I am meeting with candidates, talking with them, talking with their staff and my staff is too,” he said. “I’m still hopeful that there will be a way that I can come to a conviction but it must be a conviction. It is not good enough to pull a name out of a hat or just make an endorsement that is not one that is grounded in the brain and in the gut.”
Romney would make a better manager, King acknowledged, but he added that Gingrich is a more desirable candidate to defeat President Barack Obama.
“Mitt Romney is a significantly better candidate than he was four years ago. He’s been campaigning now for five or so years for president,” King said. “If you want someone in charge that you’ll know the trains will run on time, Mitt Romney is the man that we have confidence in that he can do that.”
But voters have questions over Romney’s conservative convictions, particularly healthcare.
“He’s been consistent over the last four or five years, however, and the burden that he carries with him is his healthcare policy in Massachusetts makes it really hard for him to challenge Barack Obama on Obamacare,” King said. “And this race must be about a full 100 percent repeal of Obamacare. I give the nod to Gingrich in that particular contest.”
In a match between former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the nod goes to Santorum, with whom King hunted during the holiday weekend.
via Rep. Steve King: Gingrich Better Candidate Than Romney.