Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich rode a strong performance and crowd enthusiasm at a debate in South Carolina to victory in that state’s primary, but the crowds at two debates in Florida this week haven’t been as wild for Gingrich. Now his campaign is claiming that rival Mitt Romney’s campaign stacked the audience at Thursday’s debate with its supporters to shift the energy toward Romney, the Huffington Post reported.
“They definitely packed the room," Kevin Kellems, a Gingrich adviser, told the Post.
But that’s not the case, according to both the Florida Republican Party and the Romney campaign. The party, which doled out 900 of the 1,200 tickets, says most of them went to “rank and file” Republicans.
“We did a very thorough job of getting them to the rank and file, vetting them to make sure they went to registered Republicans and then making sure they went out to people that were not knowingly affiliated” with the campaigns, Party spokesman Brian Hughes told the website.
A Romney spokesman said the campaign was given a number of tickets that he assumed was the same number as the other campaigns received.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney celebrates his Florida primary election win at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Supporters of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, cheer at his Florida primary election party at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Antonita Fonari, right, watches election results at former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's Florida Republican presidential primary night rally, in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
A workman mounts a sign to the podium before Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's Florida Republican presidential primary night rally, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.
PHOTO: MATT ROURKE/AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stands with his son Josh as he watches results for the Florida primary election at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.
PHOTO: CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP
Mitt Romney laughs as he speaks with a voter at his campaign office in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, during Florida's primary election day.
PHOTO: CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP
Mitt Romney points to his signature on a quilt he signed earlier, with messages from supporters, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at his campaign office in Tampa, Fla.
PHOTO: CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, accompanied by his wife Callista, meets with campaign workers in view of a cutout of former President Ronald Reagan during a visit to the Polk County campaign office, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, in Lakeland, Fla.
PHOTO: MATT ROURKE/AP
A polling official waits for voters in Miami, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, during the Republican primary election.
PHOTO: AP Photo/J Pat Carter
Newt Gingrich supporter Luz Gonzalez of Miami waves to a passing car as she stands outside a polling station on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, in Miami.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Mitt Romney gives a thumbs up as he greets volunteers at his campaign office in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, during Florida's primary election day.
PHOTO: CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP
Newt Gingrich speaks with members of the media outside a polling place at the First Baptist Church of Windermere in Orlando, Fla.,Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.
PHOTO: MATT ROURKE/AP
Zach Brice, right, and Louise Burton wait for Mitt Romney to arrive at a campaign event at Ring Power Lift Trucks in Jacksonville, Fla., Monday, Jan. 30, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Newt Gingrich, with his wife Callista, speaks during a campaign event at The Villages, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, in Lady Lake, Fla.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Mitt Romney campaigns at Lanco Paint Company in Orlando on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012.
PHOTO: Charles Dharapak/AP
Newt Gingrich meets with supporters during an event at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
PHOTO: Matt Rourke/AP
Mitt Romney, campaigns at The Hispanic Leadership Network’s Lunch at Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Fla., Friday, Jan. 27, 2012.
PHOTO: CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP
Newt Gingrich, accompanied by his wife Callista, speaks during Hispanic Leadership Network conference at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in Miami, Fla.
PHOTO: MATT ROURKE/AP
PHOTO: PAUL SANCYA/AP
Mitt Romney campaigns at The Hispanic Leadership Network's Lunch at Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Fla., Friday, Jan. 27, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Rick Santorum speaks at a Latin Builders Association luncheon in Miami, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012.
PHOTO: PAUL SANCYA/AP
Newt Gingrich disembarks from a airplane Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in Miami, Fla.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, participates in the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Rick Santorum participates in the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Republican presidential candidates, from left to right: former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas; participate in the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Rick Santorum participates in the Republican presidential candidates debate at the University of South Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Mitt Romney participates in the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Republican presidential candidates former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shake hands at the Republican presidential candidates debate at the University of South Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Republican presidential candidates former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shake hands at the Republican presidential candidates debate at the University of South Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, stand during the National Anthem at the Republican presidential candidates debate at the University of South Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday,
PHOTO: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Mitt Romney campaigns at Paramount Printing in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Newt Gingrich arrives at the University of North Florida, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Newt Gingrich speaks at the University of North Florida, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney accompanied by (from left) Florida Republican Reps. Connie Mack and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and former Florida Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Romney campaigned at a U.S.-Cuba Democracy Political Action Committee Event at Freedom Tower at Miami-Dade College on Jan. 25, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum speaks at the First Baptist Church in Naples, Fla., Jan. 25, 2012.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich gestures during the "Meet the Candidates" forum, hosted by Univision, Jan. 25, 2012, at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Miami Dade College in Miami.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Jeffrey M. Boan
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich laughs at a comment by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, not seen, during a presidential debate, Jan. 23, 2012, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney during a Republican presidential debate, Jan. 23, 2012, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich (right) gestures as he talks to rival Mitt Romney during the Tampa, Fla., Republican presidential debate.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum before the Tampa, Fla., GOP debate.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Republican presidential candidates (from left) Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul on stage before a debate on Jan. 23, 2012, at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara
Nancy Kelley of Tampa, Fla. smiles at an event for Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at The River Church in Tampa, Fla.
PHOTO: (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Kathy Sanchez cheers during an event for Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Jan. 23 at the River Church in Tampa, Fla.
PHOTO: MATT ROURKE/AP
Newt Gingrich speaks at the River Church on Jan. 23 in Tampa, Fla.
PHOTO: MATT ROURKE/AP
Mitt Romney campaigns at Allstar Building Materials in Ormond Beach, Fla., on Jan. 22.
PHOTO: CHARLES DHARAPAK/AP
Rick Santorum greets supporters at a campaign rally in Coral Springs, Fla., on Jan. 22.
PHOTO: STEVE MITCHELL/AP
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