Gingrich on Freddie Mac contract, his bash @ Romney’s work @ Bain

Here’s a bit more from the Iowa Press taping with guest Newt Gingrich (show airs tomorrow night statewide on Iowa Public Television; video posted online now). 

Henderson: During the debate last Saturday you took a good bit of lead from your opponents over your lobbying contract — they would characterize it as such — with Freddie Mac. Do you regret taking that job and do you regret criticizing Mitt Romney for his activities at Bain, in responding to one of his attacks?”

Gingrich: “I don’t regret taking the job because it was a totally legal, non-lobbying, strategic-advisory thing and, you know, I’m not going to go through life, trying, that part just gets mischaracterized. I do regret taking a shot at Mitt. It was foolish on my part. He had taken one more shot at me that he knew wasn’t true and made an assertion that he knew was absurd, but it violated all the core principles I have in terms of trying to stay positive despite temptation. It also communicated something I don’t believe in. I think people who run those companies have an obligation to run the companies effectively and to do the best they can and I’ve said in the past, many times, that he’s a good manager, so it’s one of the few times, I think, in the campaign where I said something that, you know, I could have retracted.”