◼ In a potentially pivotal GOP presidential debate, Newt Gingrich repeatedly found himself on the defensive Monday night - LA Times
Romney, reeling from a double-digit loss to Gingrich two days earlier in South Carolina, improved on his halting performances in recent debates but didn’t land a knockout blow.
Gingrich, who brought debate crowds to their feet last week, was restrained and passed up several opportunities to attack Romney. He also avoided his past attacks on the news media and, with an eye toward the more moderate electorate in next Tuesday’s Florida primary, muted his strident populist rhetoric.
