December 12, 2011 10:38 PM UTC

Romney Free-Fall Continues

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• by: Colorado Pols

It’s been a bad week for presumptive Republican Presidential leader Mitt Romney. Last week polling in several key primary states showed that Newt Gingrich had pulled considerably ahead of Romney. Then Romney stuck an expensive foot in his mouth in a debate on Saturday, offering to “bet” Rick Perry $10,000 that he doesn’t still believe in an individual insurance mandate, or something.

Today, via Politico, Romney admits for the first time that someone else — Gingrich — is the frontrunner for the GOP nomination:

Mitt Romney, who just a month ago had hoped to seal the GOP presidential nomination with Florida’s primary on Jan. 31, tells POLITICO that he now foresees an epic fight with Newt Gingrich that could last through the California primary on June 5.

Asked if the former House speaker is the front-runner, Romney replied bluntly: “He is right now.”…

…Despite double-digit leads for Gingrich in three of the four early states, Romney pooh-poohed the idea that this is a white-knuckle season for him or his team.

“Oh, not at all, not at all,” he said. “I’ve got a family, I’ve got a life. I’m putting myself on the line to try and make a difference for the country I care deeply about, and to help the great majority of Americans that are really hurting; and if people don’t want me to do that, that’s fine.”

In that last quote, is Romney just trying to stick to his script that he is a better family man than Gingrich…or are those the words of a man who is beginning to prepare himself for a loss?