Washington, Dec 19: Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich stepped up his criticism of U.S. judges and the Supreme Court as chief rival Mitt Romney defended his record against likely Democratic attacks.
With close to two weeks before Republican voters start choosing who will take on President Barack Obama in 2012, Gingrich is courting the conservative primary voters he will need to win in the lead-off state of Iowa and sustain his campaign against Romney.
Romney, meanwhile, is relying on superior organization and a pile of cash as he looks beyond the primary to the general election, though he continues to struggle in efforts to attract conservative Republicans.
Polls in Iowa and nationally show Gingrich ahead of Romney in the race for the Republican nomination.
Gingrich is looking to stay at the top in the Iowa caucuses in early January. The two candidates and other challengers then will square off in New Hampshire, which has the first primary balloting in the U.S. on Jan. 10.
Gingrich, in remarks on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday, took up a familiar charge popular with conservatives against the U.S. court system.
"There is steady encroachment of secularism through the courts to redefine America as a nonreligious country and the encroachment of the courts on the president's commander in chief powers, which is enormously dangerous," Gingrich said.
Gingrich has mounted a broad attack on federal judges and the Supreme Court, arguing that they are legislating from the bench and have more control over the country than they should.
It's an argument that drew sustained applause during a debate last week in Sioux City, Iowa — and one that could have particular resonance in a state where Republicans fought a protracted battle with state Supreme Court judges over gay marriage.
The two Republican front-runners focused on Obama and defended their own records in separate TV interviews.
In a rare appearance on a Sunday news program, Romney portrayed himself as the Republican candidate who is best able to defeat Obama next year.
Romney defended his years making millions in private business, claiming he'll be able to handle attacks from Democrats who are already trying to paint him as wealthy and out-of-touch.
"The president's going to go after me," Romney said on Fox News Sunday. "I'll go after him."
While Romney and Gingrich were on the East Coast on Sunday, their other rivals were campaigning across Iowa.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry continued his bus tour across the state, as did Rep. Michele Bachmann. Former Sen. Rick Santorum planned two town hall meetings in the conservative western portion of the state.
Campaigning will continue into next week, with Gingrich also planning to spend the early part of the week in Iowa.
He'll head to New Hampshire Wednesday, where Romney will already be part way through a four-day bus tour. Romney won't return to Iowa until after Christmas.
