Newt: I've been carpet-bombed in White House race

A 'carpet bombing' campaign against Newt Gingrich looks set to clinch the Florida primary for Mitt Romney, polls showed today.

After Mr Romney's shock defeat in South Carolina he has come out fighting, aiming a string of accusations and attacks at the former House of Representatives speaker.

Today an NBC News poll put Mr Romney 15 points ahead of Mr Gingrich on 42 points. Mr Gingrich reacted angrily to claims he had a "record of failed leadership", claiming the former Massachusetts governor was "carpet-bombing" his character.

Mr Romney's organisation has a huge financial advantage and has dogged his rival's campaign stops, sending activists to remind people about an ethics probe into Mr Gingrich in the Nineties.

Mr Gingrich accused his opponent and a political committee that supports him of lying - and Republican Party chiefs of allowing it. "I don't know how you debate a person with civility if they're prepared to say things that are just plain factually false," he said.

"I think the Republican establishment believes it's OK to say and do virtually anything to stop a genuine insurgency winning because they are very afraid of losing control of the old order."

He claimed the race in Florida was closer than polls indicated, and vowed to fight on regardless of tomorrow's result. "I believe the Republican Party will not nominate a pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-tax increase moderate from Massachusetts," he said.

"They will not nominate somebody who raises millions from Wall Street to run ads that are false."

So stunned were Mr Romney's team by the South Carolina defeat, they have outspent Mr Gingrich in Florida five to one. Mr Romney has spent $6.8 million on TV ads to his rival's $2.2 million.