Did Mitt Romney Steal Newt Gingrich's Joke?

Jae C. Hong/AP Photo

Newt Gingrich officially left the presidential race today, making Mitt Romney - but for Ron Paul - the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. But Gingrich's move could deprive Romney of something important on the campaign fundraiser circuit: joke material.

Appearing at a private fundraising at the home of a pizza magnate John Schnatter, Mitt Romney praised the beautiful surroundings and made a point about Democrats and Republicans.

"What a home this is, what grounds these are, the pool, the golf course, you know if a Democrat were here he'd look around and say no one should live like this," said Romney, as the crowd began to laugh. "Republicans come here and say everyone should live like this, all right. This is a really tribute to America, to entrepreneurship."

It was similar to a joke and a sentiment expressed by Gingrich at a fundraiser in 2007.

"I think any time you can visit a starter home like this (Guffaws from audience). You know if you're a conservative you come into a home like this and you think to  yourself, "what a great country, people can work hard, they can make money, they can create new jobs and as a result they can live in a very nice home." If you're a liberal you walk in here and you think "public housing for 40 families."'

Watch that video here.

The video was unearthed by Buzzfeed back in December and got some attention because Gingrich mentioned public housing. It is not entirely clear where Gingrich was speaking.