Shifting Tactics, Giuliani Uses (Some of) Romney's Words Against Him
PENSACOLA, FLA. -- In the latest ad from Rudy Giuliani's campaign, the former mayor uses a quote from rival candidate Mitt Romney to highlight the mayor's own record of fiscal conservatism.
The Florida-launched ad, entitled "Quotes", cherry-picks a quote from Mitt Romney, saying "Giuliani has a great record of cutting taxes and cutting spending…"
The quote, ending in ellipses, was taken from a post debate interview with Romney on CNBC.
So what part of Romney's statement was cut off and replaced by Giuliani's campaign with dot-dot-dots?
"Mayor Giuliani has a great record of cutting taxes and cutting spending, although, according to the Mayor, Mayor Bloomberg, that followed him, he said that he left excessive deficits for him. But he's cut spending, he cut taxes, I cut spending, I cut taxes," Mitt Romney said on CNBC on Oct. 9, 2007.
Romney campaign spokesman Kevin Madden responded to the Giuliani ad, saying "It is perfectly fitting that Mayor Giuliani is forced to alter and distort the quotes of others in his attempt to gloss over his poor record of big city spending."
This shows a different side of Giuliani's strategy in going after his opponents. Pledging for months not to attack his fellow Republican candidates unless defending his record, Giuliani is instead using Romney's own words in his favor.
This could be the first step Giuliani takes in making distinctions between himself and other GOP runners who head towards Florida in the next week.
As Giuliani's director of strategy Brent Seaborn told reporters last weekend, "When the time is right we'll see him decide to draw more of a contrast between John McCain and frankly any other opponents who come into this state."