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The sound of silence:

Romney takes off the gloves against Gingrich in Tampa debate



Uploaded by ReutersTV on 24 Jan 2012

GOP candidate Mitt Romney went on the offense against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Monday night, lambasting his record in Congress and his post-speakership work in Washington during a lively debate in Tampa sponsored by NBC News.

UK Daily Mail...Newt Gingrich has thrown down a gauntlet to the TV networks – either allow the audience to applaud or he won’t take part in any future debates.

The former House Speaker was furious that moderator Brian Williams told supporters at Monday’s NBC debate that they should stay quiet.

The plea effectively silenced Mr. Gingrich’s famously boisterous fans and led to an unusually muted performance by the presidential hopeful just when his campaign was gaining momentum following the runaway weekend win in South Carolina.
CNN reassured the remaining Republican nomination candidates that the audience at Thursday’s debate in Jacksonville, Florida, won’t be silenced. But they won’t be allowed to give full vent to their feelings.

‘As we have done in the past, CNN will ask the audience to be respectful of the candidates,’ said a spokesperson. ‘We have always said that if audience reaction such as shouting or booing interferes with the debate or with the candidates’ answers, we will ask the audience to refrain.’

Click UK Daily Mail link to read FULL report from David Gardner