Will Romney-Gingrich battle lead to costly split in the GOP?

By Dan Balz

TAMPA — Newt Gingrich has vowed to take his fight for the nomination all the way to the Republican convention in August. That may be nothing more than an empty threat by a frustrated candidate with a history of exaggerated rhetoric. But could Gingrich’s battle against Mitt Romney leave the party badly divided heading into the fall campaign?

That question will intensify if Romney wins a big victory in Florida on Tuesday. Election-eve polls show the former Massachusetts governor with a healthy lead here, though the volatility of the Republican race so far this year makes forecasting more precarious than in the past. But already the lines are being drawn over whether Gingrich, if he loses badly, should begin to throttle back or keep the pressure on Romney.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-win-in-fla-could-fuel-bitter-protracted-fight/2012/01/30/gIQApGWecQ_story.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics