Gingrich criticizes media for 'open marriage' question in debate.

Angry Newt Gingrich criticized the media at the start of Jan.20 Republican presidential debate for focusing on questions about his personal life, including allegations that he asked for an "open marriage" with his second wife.

"The destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office," the former U.S. House speaker said.

"I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate with a topic like that," he said in a comment directed at the debate's sole moderator, John King of CNN. Gingrich drew applause from the debate's audience for his response.

Earlier in the day, ABC News disclosed that Gingrich's second wife, Marianne Gingrich, told the network in an interview that in the 1990s her then-husband asked for an "open marriage" amid an affair with former congressional aide and current wife, Callista. The full interview is to air on ABC later tonight.

"Every person in here knows personal pain," Gingrich said in the debate. "Every person in here has had someone close to them go though painful things. To take an ex-wife and make it two days before a primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine."

Gingrich said his two daughters had written to ABC and said the network's report was wrong and should be pulled.

"I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate," he said. "The story is false."

King asked the three other Republican candidates on the stage whether they thought it should be a campaign issue.

"These are issues of our lives and what we did in our lives are issues of character to consider," former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania said. "But the bottom line is those are things for everyone in this audience to look at."

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said the conversation should move on.

"John, let's get on to the real issues is all I got to say," he said.

U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas said all of the candidates have faced attacks and incorrect news stories, adding, "I think setting standards is very important and I'm very proud that my wife of 54 years is with my tonight."

Gingrich, 68, has previously apologized for his infidelity.

Gingrich, speaking earlier today in Beaufort, South Carolina, said, "I've been very open about mistakes I have made. I've been very open about needing to go to God for forgiveness and to seek reconciliation."

In a later radio interview with station WVOC in Columbia, South Carolina, he said his ex-wife's allegations, as he understands them, are "just plain untrue" and that his two daughters by his first wife and four or five close friends "are all willing to be witness to protest it."

The candidates squared off two days before a South Carolina primary in which it appeared Romney was seeking his third straight victory.