John King explains opening Gingrich question about ex-wife

John King says that it was his decision to ask Gingrich about his ex-wife’s allegation as the lead question at the CNN Southern Republican presidential debate in South Carolina.

King says, “There’s a story that is making the rounds in the campaign…. It might not be a great issue, it might not be an issue we’d like to talk about, but it is an issue in the debate.  Some of the other candidates are talking about it, voters are talking about it in the state. It was my judgment, my decision, and mine alone.”

David Gergen adds, “As a journalistic matter, John [King] had a duty to ask that question.  It was the elephant in the room. “