Romney Defends ‘Poor’ Remark, Stays on Attack as Race Moves West

Mitt Romney sought to seize the upper hand in the Republican presidential race after his 14-point triumph in Florida, assailing rival Newt Gingrich as not a “pure conservative” even as he defended his own attitude toward economically disadvantaged Americans.

As the contest moved west in advance of Nevada’s Feb. 4 caucuses, the former Massachusetts governor said Gingrich had strayed from core party principles by advocating action to curb climate change, criticizing a Republican Medicare plan and backing a national mandate to purchase health care. For his part, Gingrich has branded Romney a “Massachusetts moderate” to stoke resistance to his candidacy among the Republican base.