Thread: Romney Unveils Ads Against 2 Rivals

Romney Unveils Ads Against 2 Rivals

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Seeking the advantage in two states, Mitt Romney launched new hard-hitting ads against his top presidential rivals Friday, criticizing Mike Huckabee on foreign policy and spending in an Iowa commercial while assailing John McCain on taxes and immigration in a spot for New Hampshire.

The subjects of the ads brushed off the criticism and suggested they were proof that Romney's campaign was in trouble in the days before the first tests of the 2008 nomination process.

"Who is ready to make tough decisions? Mike Huckabee? Soft on government spending," Romney's latest ad against Huckabee says. It also portrays his opponent anew as weak on immigration and crime and quotes President Bush's secretary of state: "His foreign policy? 'Ludicrous,' says Condoleezza Rice."

In New Hampshire, Romney's first tough spot against McCain asks: "Is he the right Republican for the future? McCain opposes repeal of the death tax. And voted against the Bush tax cuts — twice. McCain pushed to let every illegal immigrant stay here permanently. Even voted to allow illegals to collect Social Security."

Both ads come as the races for the top spot in Iowa and New Hampshire have largely turned into two-way battles, with Romney the common denominator. The former Massachusetts governor is trying to overtake Huckabee in Iowa's caucuses slated on Thursday and fend off McCain's challenge in next-up New Hampshire, which holds the first primary in the nation on Jan. 8.

"I'm familiar with tailspins and I think he's in one," McCain responded on Fox News Channel as he campaigned in Iowa. He also took a swipe at Romney's equivocations on various issues, saying: "I don't know how to respond to a lot of his charges because tomorrow he may have a different position."

In Pella, Iowa, Huckabee brushed aside Romney's criticism.

"We are going to show that a positive campaign works. If it doesn't, the American people will decide they like negative, nasty, untrue, dishonest advertising," said the former Arkansas governor.

Romney's willingness to go after his opponents — and risk the ire of voters who could punish him for negative campaigning — underscores the high stakes of the contests in both states as well as the tenuous state of his own bid. His strategy hinges on using momentum from back-to-back wins in those states to make him unstoppable in battlegrounds beyond. He once led by large margins in the first two states but now finds himself threatened on both fronts.

Polls show Huckabee's advantage in Iowa narrowing in the past few weeks as Romney has gone on the attack and as Huckabee has made a few unforced errors. Romney's aides suspect Huckabee's support in Iowa may have peaked, and they argue that their campaign's superior get-out-the-vote operation might be able to close the gap and help Romney prevail next week.

While Romney has fought Huckabee in Iowa, McCain has gained ground in New Hampshire and benefited from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's slippage in polls. McCain won the Northeastern state in 2000, and still is beloved by a large contingent of die-hard backers. He is putting almost all of his resources into New Hampshire and is essentially camping out there as he seeks a repeat win — and a comeback after a near campaign implosion during the summer.

In contrast to Romney, a new McCain ad in New Hampshire highlights his 20 endorsements from newspapers in the state and quotes their words of praise, including "McCain campaigns with decency."

It's little surprise Romney is taking his criticism of McCain to the airwaves; he used the same approach against Huckabee in Iowa.

As McCain has moved up in polls, Romney has sharpened his rhetoric against him. In recent days, Romney has accused McCain of "failing Reagan 101" by twice voting against major Bush administration tax cuts. He also has suggested the Arizona senator supported amnesty for illegal immigrants, although McCain has said he wants them to register with the government.

After laying the groundwork through the "earned media" of news coverage, Romney now is trying to spread that message through paid media in hopes of undercutting McCain.

The ad shows pictures of McCain and Romney and says: "There is a difference." It eviscerates McCain on taxes and immigration only to praise Romney's record on taxes and spending as Massachusetts governor and argue that he "opposes amnesty for illegals."

Taxes and immigration are trouble spots for McCain.

Some Republicans view him skeptically for breaking with Bush on taxes; he now says he supports extending the tax cuts because doing otherwise would amount to a tax increase. McCain also has been dogged by his support for comprehensive immigration reform that includes an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants; he now tells voters that he got the message earlier this year when one such bill failed in Congress and that the borders must be secured first.

http://ap.google.com/article




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Huck keeps sticking his foot in his mouth on immigration

Of course the msm is still reporting him as a front runner,

My wifes relatives all live in Iowa and would never vote
for that moron Huck

They think he's a crossbetween a snake oil salesman and a used care dealer

I don't see anything wrong with Romneys attack adds

but

Romney better get out there and really clarify his positions and
solutions real fast

Its ok to ding the opposition but you better have the right answers
to the questions before you do

Roy Beck from Numbersusa was just on Roger Hedgecock. He says that Romney contacted him, and he believes that Romney will be clarifying his positions very soon-----and he has given Romney a lot higher points than Ron Paul, due to several concerns that he has about Paul.

He praised Duncan Hunter.

He likes Thompson.

All of the others VERY LOW grades/support.

Originally Posted by Bren4824

Roy Beck from Numbersusa was just on Roger Hedgecock. He says that Romney contacted him, and he believes that Romney will be clarifying his positions very soon.

Thanks, I'll be interested to read this.

The lead Vegas Newspaper doesn't think highly of Ron Paul either

The lead cartoon
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion

I'm not a firm believer in polls but I've seen a bunch today and
Ron Paul isn't even in the top 5 on any of them

Now thats not to ding Paul , But I do believe that if Romney wants
to be a viable candidate in this race he better get out there and
get his position clarified and he better do it fast

Its cool to ding Huck because hes a Gomer but Romney better
start to offer a plan of his own and fast

Originally Posted by usanevada

The lead Vegas Newspaper doesn't think highly of Ron Paul either

The lead cartoon
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion

I'm not a firm believer in polls but I've seen a bunch today and
Ron Paul isn't even in the top 5 on any of them

Now thats not to ding Paul , But I do believe that if Romney wants
to be a viable candidate in this race he better get out there and
get his position clarified and he better do it fast

Its cool to ding Huck because hes a Gomer but Romney better
start to offer a plan of his own and fast

Its like that all over with the paul polls

I heard the poll today from Iowa.

Romney and Huckabee are neck to neck at about 25-28%

Thompson is 15%

Ron Paul 4%

Duncan Hunter 1%

Originally Posted by Bren4824

I heard the poll today from Iowa.

Romney and Huckabee are neck to neck at about 25-28%

Thompson is 15%

Ron Paul 4%

Duncan Hunter 1%

Bren if you dont mind
Post a link to those polls if you have it other wise its becomes just

hear say

Originally Posted by GREGAGREATAMERICAN

Originally Posted by Bren4824

I heard the poll today from Iowa.

Romney and Huckabee are neck to neck at about 25-28%

Thompson is 15%

Ron Paul 4%

Duncan Hunter 1%

Bren if you dont mind
Post a link to those polls if you have it other wise its becomes just

hear say

I heard this on Fox News----there are NO links.

I heard it again this evening----I forgot to add----McCain is at 14%