US elections: Republicans fear fallout as Newt Gingrich vows a fight to end

As the four remaining candidates for the nomination prepare for tomorrow’s vote, party bigwigs may be beginning to worry over the impact of the fractious fight ahead.

Yesterday, Mr Gingrich lashed out at the “Republican establishment” for standing in his way.

During a round of appearances on US political talk shows, he accused backers of frontrunner Mitt Romney of doing “virtually anything to stop a genuine insurgency from winning because they are very afraid of losing control of the old order”.

Evidence of real enmity between the two candidates was seen throughout the weekend, with Mr Romney ridiculing his rival and rubbishing his record. In return, Mr Gingrich repeatedly accused the former Massachusetts governor of being dishonest.

Over the last month, the pugnacious ex-House speaker has been the focus of a series of negative ads funded by the supporters of Mr Romney.

But having locked-in financial backing from casino magnate and pro-Israel lobbyist Sheldon Adelson, the veteran political heavyweight has mounted an effective counter-offensive. It helped him to a comfortable victory in South Carolina vote.

Up until a few days ago, it appeared that a win in Florida was also within Mr Gingrich’s grasp.

But a poor debate on Thursday combined with an increase in the attack against him appears to have swung momentum back in Mr Romney’s favour.

Over the weekend, the former Massachusetts governor campaigned with renewed swagger.

“I think we are going to win here, I sure hope so,” he said while glad-handing in Florida.

As he focused his public attack on President Barack Obama, a new TV commercial was doing its best to destroy Mr Gingrich’s record as House speaker.

A poll conducted for the Florida media suggests that it has had an impact. It found that 43 per cent of primary voters intend to back Mr Romney, with Mr Gingrich trailing him on 31 per cent.

But it hasn’t been all gloom for the Gingrich campaign.

Over the weekend, he picked up the endorsement of former candidate Herman Cain, who remains a popular Tea Party figure despite having to pull out amid a slew of sexual misconduct allegations. But given Mr Gingrich’s own chequered marital past, it is unclear how much of a boost Mr Cain’s backing will be.

Perhaps more significant is the decision by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin to up her support of the former House speaker.

Mr Gingrich is a political bruiser who can take a punch almost as well as he can give it.

And even a thumping in tomorrow’s ballot will not see him consent to a Romney coronation. At a rally on Saturday, he vowed to stay in the race until it is eventually decided at the Republican Party’s summer get-together in August.

“I will go all the way to the convention,” he told supporters at a golf club in south Florida.

The news will be welcomed by those planning President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.