Romney credits change in tactics for Florida surge

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Mitt Romney says he's fought back from his South Carolina setback into the forefront of the Republican presidential field by more aggressively returning Newt Gingrich's campaign fire and by presenting himself as a Washington outsider.

Romney tells NBC's "Today" show that in the days leading up to the South Carolina, he was "getting just whaled" by the former House speaker and says he didn't fight back very well. Now, Romney says, he's "pushed back," and says he believes the voters have responded to his charges that Gingrich has benefited from his business relationship with the mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

Romney said Monday morning that he believes he's reinvigorated his campaign by a combination of a change in message and a change in tactics.