NO KNOCKOUT IN FLORIDA Newt Gingrich abandoned his role as Mitt Romney's chief antagonist in Thursday night's presidential debate, going easy on the national GOP front-runner as a third candidate joined the fray in force.
It was Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator and Iowa caucus winner, who challenged Romney aggressively over his record on health care as Gingrich repeatedly pulled his punches - a surprising strategy that he may regret if his momentum cools before next Tuesday's primary.
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Politico - 1/27/2012