Gingrich denies he sought ‘open marriage' with his second wife

Charleston, S.C. –- Newt Gingrich angrily denied during a fireworks-filled debate here Thursday that he asked his second wife for an open marriage so he could carry on an affair with his mistress, and he condemned the news media for reporting on the subject just two days before Palmetto State primary voters go to the polls.

Yet, some of his opponents in the race for the Republican nomination suggested during the debate that the allegations from Gingrich’s second wife are legitimate issues for voters to consider.

Gingrich’s opponents also criticized his record as speaker of the House of Representatives before clashing over whether and when they should release their tax returns.

The former Georgia congressman had a roller coaster-like ride on the campaign trail Thursday. Rising in the South Carolina polls, he was up after receiving an endorsement from Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who quit the race just hours before the debate.

And then he was down when the news surfaced that his second wife, Marianne, was expected to appear on ABC News later Thursday night and allege he cheated on her with his current — and third — wife, Callista. Marianne Gingrich was also expected to claim that Gingrich wanted an open marriage where he and Marianne would remain married but he would also keep Callista as a mistress.

“Let me be quite clear. The story is false,” the former Georgia congressman said at the debate, hosted by CNN and the Southern Republican Leadership Conference at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. “I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans.”

Gingrich appeared annoyed when debate moderator John King asked him about Marianne Gingrich’s assertions, saying icily: “I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office. And I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.”

When King asked whether the affair is an issue in the campaign, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania said he is a Christian and thanks God for forgiveness.

“But these are issues of our lives and what we did in our lives,” he said. “They are issues of character for people to consider. But the bottom-line is those are things for everyone in this audience to look at… This country is a very forgiving country. This country understands that we are all fallen and I am very hopeful we will be judged by that standard and not by a higher one on the ultimate day.”

During introductions at the start of the debate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney mentioned his wife of 42 years. But when King asked about Gingrich’s ex-wife, Romney said simply: “Let’s get on to the real issues is all I have to say.”

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas decried “attacks from the media. It is very disturbing because sometimes they are not based on facts and we suffer the consequences.” But Paul went on to say this about the assertions made by Gingrich’s ex-wife: “The people have to sort this out. But I think setting standards is very important and I am very proud my wife of 54 years is with me tonight.”

Later, Santorum took aim at Gingrich’s time as speaker of the House.

“Four years into his speakership he was thrown out by the conservatives,” Santorum said. “There was a coup against him in three… I was there. I knew what the problems were going on in the House of Representatives when Newt Gingrich was leading it. It was an idea a minute. No discipline. No ability to be able to pull things together.”

Gingrich responded that he took political risks and sometimes staked out positions against Republican leadership to do what was right.

“Long before Rick came to Congress,” Gingrich said, “I was busy being a rebel, creating a Conservative Opportunity Society, developing a plan to win a majority in Congress.”

Gingrich has frequently touted his work in Congress with then-President Ronald Reagan. Romney took a shot at that narrative.

“Mr. Speaker, you talk about all the things you did with Ronald Reagan and the Reagan revolution and the jobs created during the Reagan years and so forth,” he said.