There is yet another twist in the US Republican primary battle to take on President Barack Obama in the presidential elections less than a year from now.<br /><br />Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, is now surging in opinion polls among Republicans.<br /><br />But he, too, has his fair share of controversies, with questions being raised over his past dealings as a paid consultant for Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance company.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane reports from Washington .
