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FACT CHECK: Gingrich overstates his Fla. results

Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks in Golden, Colo., Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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The Associated Press Updated 3:11 PM Monday, February 6, 2012

WASHINGTON — After losing Saturday's Nevada caucus race, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich sought solace in what he called an encouraging statistic: that his supporters were turning out to vote more enthusiastically than those of his chief rival, Mitt Romney.

"I think it's amazing, if you go look at Florida, every county I carried in Florida had an increased turnout. Every county Romney carried in Florida had a decreased turnout. Now that should sober every Republican in the country," Gingrich told reporters.

He repeated the assertion in appearances on CBS, NBC and CNN.

His numbers were off, however. While Gingrich carried 34 counties in the Jan. 31 Florida primary, 13 of those recorded lower turnout than they had in the last such GOP voting, in 2008.

And while 32 of the 33 counties Romney carried in winning the state did see declines, it wasn't as absolute as Gingrich put it. One — Sumter County — showed a nearly 20 percent increase in turnout.

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February 06, 2012 08:06 PM EST

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