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| Chris Christie tells Mitt Romney to release tax returns | Chris Christie tells Mitt Romney to release tax returns |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Republican candidate Mitt Romney should release his tax returns without delay, says one of his main backers, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. | Republican candidate Mitt Romney should release his tax returns without delay, says one of his main backers, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. |
| He told breakfast TV: "Let's get all of the facts out there", adding that he did not think they would reveal much. | He told breakfast TV: "Let's get all of the facts out there", adding that he did not think they would reveal much. |
| On Tuesday Mr Romney indicated he pays about 15% in tax, a much lower rate than most Americans contribute. He says he might release his returns in April. | On Tuesday Mr Romney indicated he pays about 15% in tax, a much lower rate than most Americans contribute. He says he might release his returns in April. |
| Rivals want Mr Romney to divulge the details before a key weekend primary. | Rivals want Mr Romney to divulge the details before a key weekend primary. |
| He is leading the pack in the state-by-state race for the Republican Party's nomination to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama for the White House this November. | He is leading the pack in the state-by-state race for the Republican Party's nomination to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama for the White House this November. |
| Gingrich pounces | Gingrich pounces |
| A Romney win in South Carolina's nominating vote on Saturday could all but sew up the Republican presidential nomination, correspondents say. | A Romney win in South Carolina's nominating vote on Saturday could all but sew up the Republican presidential nomination, correspondents say. |
| Gov Christie told MSNBC programme Morning Joe on Wednesday: "What I would say to Governor Romney is if you have tax returns to put out, you should put them out. | Gov Christie told MSNBC programme Morning Joe on Wednesday: "What I would say to Governor Romney is if you have tax returns to put out, you should put them out. |
| "You should put them out sooner rather than later because it's always better to have full disclosure, especially if you're the front-runner." | "You should put them out sooner rather than later because it's always better to have full disclosure, especially if you're the front-runner." |
| Gov Christie is a popular surrogate of the Romney campaign and has made appearances on the campaign trail in Iowa and New Hampshire. | Gov Christie is a popular surrogate of the Romney campaign and has made appearances on the campaign trail in Iowa and New Hampshire. |
| Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who built a fortune in private equity, said while campaigning in South Carolina on Tuesday that his income came mainly from past investments. | Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who built a fortune in private equity, said while campaigning in South Carolina on Tuesday that his income came mainly from past investments. |
| The other Republican candidates are attempting to portray Mr Romney - who has a personal fortune estimated at up to $270m (£175m) - as out of touch with the everyday hardship of average voters. | The other Republican candidates are attempting to portray Mr Romney - who has a personal fortune estimated at up to $270m (£175m) - as out of touch with the everyday hardship of average voters. |
| Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich have suggested that Mr Romney may have something to hide in not releasing his tax forms, which he has repeatedly declined to do. | Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich have suggested that Mr Romney may have something to hide in not releasing his tax forms, which he has repeatedly declined to do. |
| The issue came under renewed scrutiny during a nationally televised debate on Monday night as Mr Perry, the Texas governor, challenged him to disclose the details. | The issue came under renewed scrutiny during a nationally televised debate on Monday night as Mr Perry, the Texas governor, challenged him to disclose the details. |
| Mr Gingrich, a former House of Representatives Speaker, meanwhile said on Wednesday that he paid 31% of his income in taxes for 2010. | |
| He told reporters he was not criticising Mr Romney for paying a tax rate below what most Americans pay. | He told reporters he was not criticising Mr Romney for paying a tax rate below what most Americans pay. |
| "My goal is not to raise Mitt Romney's taxes, but to let everyone pay Romney's rate,'' he said. | "My goal is not to raise Mitt Romney's taxes, but to let everyone pay Romney's rate,'' he said. |
| Mr Gingrich, buoyed by another robust debating performance on Monday, has been backed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the party's vice-presidential nominee in 2008. | Mr Gingrich, buoyed by another robust debating performance on Monday, has been backed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the party's vice-presidential nominee in 2008. |
| She told Fox News on Tuesday night that she would vote for Mr Gingrich in South Carolina's primary if she could. | She told Fox News on Tuesday night that she would vote for Mr Gingrich in South Carolina's primary if she could. |