After being compared to Lucy, Gingrich visits chocolate factory in Iowa

ALGONA, Iowa - After Mitt Romney mockingly compared Newt Gingrich's campaign to "Lucille Ball at the chocolate factory," Gingrich decided Wednesday to try to one-up his rival - by visiting an actual chocolate factory.

Romney made the remark in response to Gingrich's failure to qualify for the Virginia primary election ballot, invoking the classic I Love Lucy scene in which Ball is overwhelmed by an active conveyor belt of candies. Algona's Chocolate Season dessert cafe was the scheduled second stop on his daily bus tour - a fortunate coincidence for the former House speaker.

"Governor Romney had a cute line yesterday about my team resembling Lucy and the chocolate factory and I just want to say: here I am in the chocolate factory," Gingrich said, as TV cameras rolled. "And now that I have the courage to come to the chocolate factory, I hope Governor Romney has the courage to debate me one-on-one and defend his negative ads. I don't expect him to do it, but I hope if he comes by, he at least buys some chocolates."

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