Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tells Newsmax that a new book's claims that he had to give his wife, Callista, gifts to persuade her to let him stay in the presidential race are nothing but a "lie."
The new e-book alleges that Gingrich bathed his wife in jewelry to get her to stop opposing his remaining in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, London's Daily Mail reports.
The book, "Election 2012: The Battle Begins," penned by Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon, has come under fire from Newt allies who say that Callista always has supported his run for presidency.
The book doesn't identify the sources behind these claims, according to the Huffington Post, which added that the Gingrich campaign has moved swiftly to deny them.
But attacks on Gingrich from media outlets have been ratcheting up as he surges in the polls. A new Marist poll released this past week shows Gingrich now ahead of Cain with 19 percent, in second place to Romney, still leading with 23 percent.
The e-book also describes former Gingrich aides' resentment of Callista. But those aides now work with the campaign of Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Some believe that resentment of Gingrich's rise in the polls as Perry has fallen in the wake of a series of gaffes may be driving the anonymous criticisms of Gingrich.
Two more segments of the book are expected down the road.
A hardcover version of the story is due out in early 2013, according to the Daily Mail.