McCain discovers his voice; initiates Republican pile-on atop a hapless Romney

October 14, 2007 in 2008, analysis, argument, campaign literature, election 2008, GOP, media, mitt romney, republicans, rhetoric, romney, strategy, triumph of reason
Tags: associated press, boston.com, George W. Bush, John McCain, Philip Elliott, Rudy Giuliani

“MANCHESTER, N.H. –Presidential hopeful John McCain scoffed Saturday at rival Mitt Romney’s claim of being the truest Republican in the race, recalling Romney’s past support for Democratic candidates and moderate politics as Massachusetts governor,” reports the estimable Associated Press writer Philip Elliott in a boston.com transmission titled McCain: Romney’s Republican credentials questionable

Romney, in an attack on fellow candidate Rudy Giuliani, said Friday that his own real-world experience and socially conservative values represent the “Republican wing of the Republican Party.”

McCain, who is battling his better-financed competitors in New Hampshire, criticized Romney in a speech to state Republican Committee members. He said he would never “con” them in asking for their votes. McCain won the state’s GOP primary in 2000, routing then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

“As we all know, when he ran for office in Massachusetts, being a Republican wasn’t much of a priority. In fact, when he ran against Ted Kennedy, he said he didn’t want to return to the days of Reagan-Bush. I always was under the impression Ronald Reagan was a real Republican,” said McCain, who considers Reagan his political mentor.

“When Gov. Romney donated money to a Democratic candidate in New Hampshire, I don’t think he was speaking for Republicans. When he voted for a Democratic candidate for president, Paul Tsongas, I don’t think he was speaking for Republicans.”

Romney, during his failed Senate run against Kennedy, said he didn’t want to return to the 1980s. He also donated money to New Hampshire Democrat Dick Swett’s political campaign.

“So, you’ll understand why I’m a little perplexed when Mitt Romney suggests he’s a better Republican than me,” McCain said … more

McCain blindslides a hapless Romney. What will Romney do? Romney’s own negatives are too high to support a negative campaign. See:

• Romney has the most negative image at this point of any of the major candidates for president, claims Newport of USA Today’s GallupGuru; the Romney campaign’s death-by-internal-memo part (ii)
• Romney’s negative attacks on others and his negatives in the polls–what is the link?

yours &c.
dr. g.d.

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