As he rises in the polls to lead the field of candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is drawing fire from all sides.

With Gingrich leading in Iowa, which holds the first presidential caucus, one of his chief rivals for the Republican nomination, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, is on the airwaves in the Hawkeye State running a new commercial with an indirect shot at the former congressional leader.

"Washington is the capital of political correctness where doublespeak reigns and the truth is frowned upon,” Perry says in the ad. “You can't say that congressmen becoming lobbyists is a form of legal corruption."

Perry goes on in the ad to slam “Washington insiders” for their lack of leadership. While not technically a lobbyist, Gingrich had worked in Washington as a consultant, including for Freddie Mac.

Gingrich also drew fire from one of the underdog candidates in the race. Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana, a dark-horses candidate for the Republican nomination who is also gunning for the Americans Elect nomination, came out swinging at Gingrich on Monday.
 
"Over the last several weeks, Newt Gingrich has challenged anyone and everyone (almost) in the presidential field to a series of Lincoln-Douglas-style debates. Well, Mr. Gingrich, you are no Lincoln. And for that matter, you’re no Douglas,” said Roemer in a statement. “The concept of a Lincoln-Douglas debate goes back to 1858 when Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas debated one of the most important issues of their time, the issue of slavery. What weighty issues are addressed in these debates? They’re a circus.
 
"I challenge Speaker Gingrich to a one-on-one debate to address the issue -- the only one not being discussed: money in politics. Let’s hold it here in New Hampshire, where the first-in-the-nation primary has been overshadowed by pandering to national media outlets; where retail politics has been disregarded for carefully staged book tours,” added Roemer.

"If Gingrich won’t debate me, I won’t be sad. There are obviously topics he prefers to discuss, candidates he prefers to debate, and those he wishes to avoid. I won’t suggest he’s picking contests he knows he can win because he’s afraid of losing. But if he won’t explain to the American people where he gets his money and what favors he owes to special interests, then he certainly isn’t qualified to be president. A president should be free to lead."

Gingrich also was attacked by a prominent conservative leader on Tuesday. Ken Connor, who used to lead the Family Research Council and now is with the Center for a Just Society, offered his take on the Republican presidential race on Tuesday. Connor is known to Floridians for leading the state Christian Coalition and for his bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1994.

“The GOP primary process has been chaotic, resulting in ups and downs for candidates and voters alike.” Connor noted on Tuesday. “Dreams were dashed when Mitch Daniels, then Sarah Palin, then Chris Christie announced their intentions to sit this one out. Mitt Romney emerged as the establishment favorite early on, but failed to -- and still fails to -- excite the Republican base. The grass-roots desire for a popular hero gave rise to the overnight ascendancy of Michelle, then Rick, then Herman. Each of these candidates has experienced the dizzying highs of front-runner status only to suffer the depressing doldrums of plummeting poll numbers.”

Connor had harsh words for current Republican front-runner Gingrich.