Gingrich to Romney: 'Give me a break'

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. -- Newt Gingrich slammed a request Friday by Mitt Romney that he release all files from a congressional ethics investigation in the late 1990s, reminding reporters that Romney has refused to release his tax returns.

"Give me a break," Gingrich said after a rally in Orangeburg, S.C. "I refuse to take seriously any request from the Romney campaign to disclose anything because they clearly don't want to disclose anything at any level that involves them."

Gingrich noted that a 900-page report on the investigation -- which led to his reprimand by Congress -- is already public.

In the wake of polls showing him now ahead of Romney in the South Carolina primary, Gingrich expressed cautious optimism about Saturday's vote.

"I hope to win South Carolina, you know, God willing we'll win," Gingrich said. "And tomorrow night will be very interesting."

"And then Florida will be even more interesting," Gingrich added, referring to the next primary on Jan. 31.

Gingrich wrapped up his campaign day by speaking to supporters gathered on the USS Yorktown, an aircraft carrier-turned-museum at Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor.

He told backers than a new Clemson University poll has him up over Romney, 32%-26%.

"I really do believe we have an opportunity to turn things around very dramatically," Gingrich said.

The Los Angeles Times, meanwhile, outlines the latest document flap between Gingrich and Romney:

The late 1990s ethics investigation found that Gingrich had mingled political and nonprofit enterprises and gave false information to investigators. The House, in an overwhelming bipartisan vote, reprimanded Gingrich and him $300,000.

While the report about the investigation is public, a congressional committee that included now-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reviewed many more documents, and Romney argued earlier in the day that any damaging information contained would sure be trumpeted by Democrats in the general election if Gingrich is the nominee.

"You know it's going to get out before the general election. Sure, he ought to get it out now," Romney said ...

The back-and-forth occurred less than 24 hours before South Carolina voters head to the polls amid signs of a tight race between Romney and Gingrich. Romney had been the front-runner, but polling shows Gingrich surging, with some predicting he could win the first primary in the South. ...

As support for the former House speaker has grown, so have attacks against him, including a fake CNN email sent to Palmetto State Republicans on Friday that said Gingrich pressured an ex-wife to have an abortion. Gingrich said that whoever is behind the email should be prosecuted.

"I am sick of the kind of dishonest campaigns that we see when people go out and fake somebody else's material for the purpose of causing trouble 24 hours before a primary," Gingrich said. "This is not worthy of our children and grandchildren. It's not worthy of America. It's not funny. It's not a game. It undermines our capacity to govern ourselves."