Former Massachusetts governor and the 2012 White House contender Mitt Romney has likened Newt Gingrich to a fairy tale character "Goldilocks" after the latter complained about the debate's audience.

"Now, Speaker Gingrich said (about) the debate before last night that the crowd wasn't allowed to cheer, so he couldn't do so well because the crowd was too quiet. Then last night, he said the crowd was too loud. It's like Goldilocks - you know, the porridge is too hot, the porridge is too cold," the New York Daily News quoted Romney, as saying.

His statement came after Gingrich accused Romney of packing the hall in a debate in Jacksonville

Gingrich also slammed NBC News moderator Brian Williams for instructing the audience to be silent when Romney attacked him for Gingrich's work for mortgage giant Freddie Mac during the Florida debate.

He also said Romney's attacks during the debate left him at a loss for words.

"What stopped me was he would say things, and I'd find myself standing there going 'That can't be true,' and he said it again and again," Gingrich said.

The Florida debate was the last candidates' debate before January 31 primary and Republican presidential contenders would not face another debate until February 22.(ANI)