Gingrich, Romney talk Cuba in S. Fla. stops

Republican presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney made campaign stops in South Florida on Wednesday as they battle for votes ahead of the state's Jan. 31 primary.

Romney got a rousing welcome from U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Miami's Cuban-American elite. Romney gave them what they wanted to hear.

VIDEO: Romney in South Florida

"We will not give Castro any gifts," Romney said.

Romney did not do well with Cuban-American voters when he ran four years ago. Now, he has a retooled image and a stronger anti-Castro message.

"This is the time, in my opinion, in the next president's first or second term, it is time for us to strike for freedom in Cuba, and I will do so as president," Romney said.

The candidate's first stop in South Florida was at Miami-Dade College, where Univision's Jorge Ramos asked him about a Dream Act student.

"She was brought here (by) her parents, when she was only 10, from Peru, and she wants to go to college. But if you become president, she wouldn't be able to go to college. Why are you punishing her? What has she done wrong?" Ramos said.

"I'm not punishing her," Romney said. "She can go to college. There's no requirement that she goes to a college that provides an in-state tuition break."

Romney does not support the Dream Act for students. He does support a path to citizenship for the children of immigrants who serve in the military.

Earlier in the day, Romney hosted an event in Orlando. During a speech there, he spoke about President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.

"As I watched the president speak, I was reminded of his trip to Florida just a week or so ago when he spoke at Fantasyland, because he was speaking in Fantasyland again last night," Romney said. "He seemed so extraordinarily detached from reality, detached from what’s going on in Florida. I mean, he came to Fantasyland, but apparently didn’t spend much times in the communities around Fantasyland and around this state."

VIDEO: Romney in Orlando

Florida is critical for Romney, who was second to John McCain in the Florida primary four years ago. McCain eventually won the GOP nomination for president.

Gingrich visits Miami, Coral Springs

Gingrich was ready for the tough questions from Univision reporter Ramos and the audience at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce forum Wednesday morning, before Romney's visit.

Ramos came out firing questions on immigration reform, infidelity, Latin America, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro. 

VIDEO: Gingrich visits South Florida

PHOTOS: For pictures of Gingrich supporters in South Florida, click here

VIDEO: Newt Gingrich's arrival at a campaign stop

On immigration, Gingrich said, "We need to have a practical conversation that gets us to legality." 

Many Miami-Dade College students at the forum were concerned about the Dream Act and opportunities for the children of undocumented immigrants.

"I am for half of the Dream Act, not the whole act," Gingrich said.

Gingrich said he would support in-state tuition for students of undocumented parents that were born in the U.S. but would make students who were not born in the U.S. pay out-of-state tuition. 

The candidate also commented on his past infidelity and past criticism of former President Bill Clinton for extramarital affairs. 

"I had two divorces, and I told the truth," he said. "I never lied under oath." 

Business leaders pummeled Gingrich with questions about how he would handle U.S. relations with Latin America as president.

"Hugo Chavez is the young Fidel (Castro). He is today the energetic center of anti-American activity in Latin America," Gingrich said. "We have to learn how to be much more muscular without being military."

As far as business relations go, Gingrich said, "We should have a conscious program to develop Miami as a place that generates business through Latin America, that lets everyday Latin Americans have a better future."

After the forum, Gingrich spoke at Florida International University, addressing Latin America policies and immigration issues.

"They worry about an Arab spring in Syria. I don't think it occurred to a single person in the White House to look south and propose a Cuba spring," Gingrich said.

Gingrich broached an overthrow of the Castro government with Cold War-era tactics and blasted the Obama administration for overlooking Latin American alliances.

After the FIU event, he headed to an event at Wings Plus in Coral Springs, where country music accompanied his apple pie rhetoric.

Gingrich's promise to cut capital gains tax and offer a flat tax and to require those who get unemployment to train for jobs resonated in the parking lot of Wings Plus.

"If you want to see massive job creation, use of American energy, welcome to the team," he called to a cheering crowd.

Meanwhile, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum spoke Wednesday morning at a rally at the First Baptist Church in Naples, where he focused his speech on family values. He planned to campaign in Jacksonville on Thursday.