Pure Horserace: McCain Vs. Romney Goes On
Sparring between Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain has become more pitched in recent weeks, particularly over immigration. Wednesday, McCain's campaign went on the offensive on another issue dear to Republican primary voters: abortion.
According to The Associated Press, McCain's campaign is circulating a video of a May 2005 press conference that took place after Romney, then governor of Massachusetts, vetoed a stem cell research bill. Asked about his state's abortion laws, he said, "I have indicated that as governor, I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice, and so far I've been able to successfully do that."
The statement came well after the 2004 meeting with a stem cell researcher that Romney says set him on the path to opposing abortion. Of course, it also came on the day he vetoed the stem cell bill, something abortion opponents would certainly cheer.
Romney's campaign wasted no time in responding, with spokesman Kevin Madden sending out an e-mail titled "When Faltering Campaigns Attack!" The e-mail claims Romney's 2005 remarks were taken out of context and said circulating the video was "a last-ditch attempt to maintain relevance" by McCain.
"Governor Romney consistently maintained, in an effort to protect the sanctity of life, that he would fight attempts to weaken the state's existing abortion laws," Madden said in a statement. "Maintaining existing laws in a state like Massachusetts was an important fight in and of itself." The campaign added, "the McCain campaign's motives are obviously borne of desperation. Their actions are both sad and unfortunate."
This latest salvo by McCain comes as Romney's poll numbers have risen in Iowa and New Hampshire and as McCain has taken a more aggressive approach to the campaign. Both men hope to become the conservative alternative to Rudy Giuliani, who leads some polls despite being to the left of the Republican base on most social issues.
Tensions between the McCain and Romney campaigns first surfaced publicly in last month's South Carolina debate and have been simmering just under the surface ever since. While McCain tries to rally conservative support by reminding voters about issues he's consistently been "right" on, he's also changing the subject from his support of the immigration reform — which appears to be languishing in the Senate. Meanwhile, Romney has risen in the polls and conservatives thus far seem to be at least giving him the benefit of the doubt for his conversions on issues like abortion.
Waiting in the wings is Fred Thompson, who could benefit from a McCain-Romney spat — should it escalate any further. — David Miller
Tried And True: In business, the old saying goes, you've got to spend money to make money. In politics, you've got to spend it to make gains in the polls more often than not. Romney, whose success in business is as much a part of his presidential campaign as his political experience, certainly does seem to be getting a bang for his buck.
According to The New York Times, Romney has already spent nearly $4 million on TV ads — and we're still seven months away from the Iowa caucuses. Romney has been running ads in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, as well as on national cable stations like the Fox News Channel for a couple months now — and that strategy looks to be paying off.
On the rise in polls in those two crucial early states, a new CNN/WMUR poll shows him leading the GOP field by eight points. The poll has Romney with 28 percent of likely Republican primary voters, while Rudy Giuliani and John McCain trail with 20 percent each. Now, some observers might want to credit the recent GOP debate in New Hampshire for Romney's move (he rose from 17 percent in the same poll in April). It's more likely that Romney's heavy ad spending during this traditionally quiet time has increased his familiarity with voters in the Granite State, especially since we've seen similar movement for him in Iowa.
No discussion of polls at this point in time should be had without the mandatory caveats. It's early, folks, even for this accelerated cycle. As evidence of how much this picture can change consider this finding from the CNN/WMUR poll: Just six percent of New Hampshire adults who say they will vote in the primary say they have definitely decided who they will vote for — while 57 percent said they have "no idea." — Vaughn Ververs
Full Speed Ahead: In case you missed it, the Chicago Tribune has put together a must-read look at Barack Obama's internal deliberations that took him from a freshman U.S. senator to presidential candidate.
The most intriguing aspect of the report: Obama and his strategists were eyeing a possible White House run in 2012 or 2016 about 16 months ago. But changing attitudes about the war in Iraq, a best-selling book and continued public interest in him combined with other factors that led to what the paper calls "an audacious, caution-be-damned run for the presidency in 2008." — Vaughn Ververs
But What If… Politicians hate answering hypothetical questions, but pollsters love asking them. CBS News' director of surveys Kathy Frankovic looks at polls' obsession with "What if?" questions in the latest installment of Poll Positions. Not only are people often asked about a decision they'll make months from now, but they're also asked to judge general election matchups that may never happen. In fact, Frankovic says, sometimes surveys ask about candidates who aren't on the ballot — and that's after voters have already left the polling place. To learn more about the alternate realities pollsters create, read Frankovic's column.
Editor's Note: Pure Horserace is a daily update of political news as interpreted by the political observers at CBSNews.com. Click here to sign up for the e-mail version.
By David Miller and Vaughn Ververs
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. According to The Associated Press, McCain's campaign is circulating a video of a May 2005 press conference that took place after Romney, then governor of Massachusetts, vetoed a stem cell research bill. Asked about his state's abortion laws, he said, "I have indicated that as governor, I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice, and so far I've been able to successfully do that."
The statement came well after the 2004 meeting with a stem cell researcher that Romney says set him on the path to opposing abortion. Of course, it also came on the day he vetoed the stem cell bill, something abortion opponents would certainly cheer.
Romney's campaign wasted no time in responding, with spokesman Kevin Madden sending out an e-mail titled "When Faltering Campaigns Attack!" The e-mail claims Romney's 2005 remarks were taken out of context and said circulating the video was "a last-ditch attempt to maintain relevance" by McCain.
"Governor Romney consistently maintained, in an effort to protect the sanctity of life, that he would fight attempts to weaken the state's existing abortion laws," Madden said in a statement. "Maintaining existing laws in a state like Massachusetts was an important fight in and of itself." The campaign added, "the McCain campaign's motives are obviously borne of desperation. Their actions are both sad and unfortunate."
This latest salvo by McCain comes as Romney's poll numbers have risen in Iowa and New Hampshire and as McCain has taken a more aggressive approach to the campaign. Both men hope to become the conservative alternative to Rudy Giuliani, who leads some polls despite being to the left of the Republican base on most social issues.
Tensions between the McCain and Romney campaigns first surfaced publicly in last month's South Carolina debate and have been simmering just under the surface ever since. While McCain tries to rally conservative support by reminding voters about issues he's consistently been "right" on, he's also changing the subject from his support of the immigration reform — which appears to be languishing in the Senate. Meanwhile, Romney has risen in the polls and conservatives thus far seem to be at least giving him the benefit of the doubt for his conversions on issues like abortion.
Waiting in the wings is Fred Thompson, who could benefit from a McCain-Romney spat — should it escalate any further. — David Miller
Tried And True: In business, the old saying goes, you've got to spend money to make money. In politics, you've got to spend it to make gains in the polls more often than not. Romney, whose success in business is as much a part of his presidential campaign as his political experience, certainly does seem to be getting a bang for his buck.
According to The New York Times, Romney has already spent nearly $4 million on TV ads — and we're still seven months away from the Iowa caucuses. Romney has been running ads in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, as well as on national cable stations like the Fox News Channel for a couple months now — and that strategy looks to be paying off.
On the rise in polls in those two crucial early states, a new CNN/WMUR poll shows him leading the GOP field by eight points. The poll has Romney with 28 percent of likely Republican primary voters, while Rudy Giuliani and John McCain trail with 20 percent each. Now, some observers might want to credit the recent GOP debate in New Hampshire for Romney's move (he rose from 17 percent in the same poll in April). It's more likely that Romney's heavy ad spending during this traditionally quiet time has increased his familiarity with voters in the Granite State, especially since we've seen similar movement for him in Iowa.
No discussion of polls at this point in time should be had without the mandatory caveats. It's early, folks, even for this accelerated cycle. As evidence of how much this picture can change consider this finding from the CNN/WMUR poll: Just six percent of New Hampshire adults who say they will vote in the primary say they have definitely decided who they will vote for — while 57 percent said they have "no idea." — Vaughn Ververs
Full Speed Ahead: In case you missed it, the Chicago Tribune has put together a must-read look at Barack Obama's internal deliberations that took him from a freshman U.S. senator to presidential candidate.
The most intriguing aspect of the report: Obama and his strategists were eyeing a possible White House run in 2012 or 2016 about 16 months ago. But changing attitudes about the war in Iraq, a best-selling book and continued public interest in him combined with other factors that led to what the paper calls "an audacious, caution-be-damned run for the presidency in 2008." — Vaughn Ververs
But What If… Politicians hate answering hypothetical questions, but pollsters love asking them. CBS News' director of surveys Kathy Frankovic looks at polls' obsession with "What if?" questions in the latest installment of Poll Positions. Not only are people often asked about a decision they'll make months from now, but they're also asked to judge general election matchups that may never happen. In fact, Frankovic says, sometimes surveys ask about candidates who aren't on the ballot — and that's after voters have already left the polling place. To learn more about the alternate realities pollsters create, read Frankovic's column.
Editor's Note: Pure Horserace is a daily update of political news as interpreted by the political observers at CBSNews.com. Click here to sign up for the e-mail version.
By David Miller and Vaughn Ververs
Popular in Politics
- For GOP, scandals could be an electoral plus - or minus 318 Comments
- IRS targeting overlooked biggest soft money groups
- Officials on Benghazi: "We made mistakes, but without malice" 338 Comments
- Romney condemns "breach of trust" in Washington 125 Comments
- Republicans use IRS scandal to tar Obamacare
- Ousted IRS chief: "I did not mislead" the American people 262 Comments
- Where is the Benghazi cover-up Republicans promised? 406 Comments
- Why Obama should worry that current scandals might impact 2016 242 Comments
As far as your statement that they don't cause innocent people to die, why do you think that repubs do? You can't see past one dumb fat mans documentaries? War is a tragedy, it always will be, but sometimes it is a necessary evil. My dad died in the 9/11 attacks, and I am glad that young men and women of our country will go out there to defend his memory and make sure that another generation doesn't lose their fathers.
I don't know how old you are, but I'm guessing you would have been one of those opposed to going into world war II had you been around back then. More men died on the beaches of Normandie than have died in this entire war -- and they were glad to give their lives for the freedoms of others. Not just those in the prison camps that were being beaten and tortured, or just those in europe in asia, even. but they did it for their country and for their families and future generations. Take note that we still speak English in this country, thanks to them, I only speak German when I want to, not becasue I have to.
And besides, what's wrong with eating granola, growing pot, or going braless? All of these are actually healthy for us, and more importantly, in and of themselves don't cause other innocent people to die, but of course, you cannot see past your neocon brainwashing, so...
Ron Paul as a registered republican, supports the party that espouses racism, elitism, sexism, and many other anti human "isms". Most David Duke - Pat Robertson supporters vote for this party, as they feel, with good reason, that it better serves their agenda.
If he were an independent, I might be interested to look, but since he plays the game like all the others, I see nothing but more of the same BS, even from him.
If his voting record on social issues was anywhere near humane and rational, the repubs would have long ago disowned him.
Don't be fooled by a talker, just as I am not fooled by Obama.
Spare us the naivety, we all know oil is just a small side benefit of this idiocy, the real reason is so the war profiteers, like Halliburton and Bechtel can relive the $25k toilet seats and $10k of the Vietnam era.
That corruption stole 17 trillion accountable dollars from the US treasury, making it necessary for Nixon to abolish the Gold standard, France and Singapore had between them more dollar bills than the US had gold.
Now, since the dollar only has value because OPEC takes payment for oil in dollars, they wish to try to rip off the treasuries of the developed world.
You are severely deluded if you think this is about terrorism, religion, freedom, democracy, defense, or any such reason, it is pure and simple greed.
to Superdem, The news was blacked out because the gassing of the Kurds was the excuse given to allow Moqtada Al-Sadr to lynch Saddam before he could say from where he got the gas.
To show that another country feels threatened by the Kurds and wants to wipe then out is the second witness against the UN position, and leans toward vindication for the late Hoesein.
Actually do some research from well respected sources before you fill everyone with your propaganda.
As far as Romney thinking he "needs" sanctioned undergarments, that is completely false. From my understanding, those undergarments are like a Jewish man wearing a Yamaka. They do it because it is something sacred to them. Dont' make it out to be some psychotic cult activity -- that couldn't be further from the truth.
2 -- with all of the plugging for Ron Paul going around, sounds like someone must be sleeping with him.
3 -- Warmongers? please. Someone finally stood up and said that Americans don't have to take the abuse from other parts of the world. We don't have to live in fear, we dont' have to accept the cult of terrorism and there are a few great men out there (our military) who will fight for and die for a better future world for their kids. I'm proud of them.
As for those stupid comments about the war being about oil -- please, if that was all we were after, we could just drill ANWR, oh wait, the pot-growing, bra-less, granola eating Democrats of America won't let us....
Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate who can and will make a difference. Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich are the only Democrats who will buck the Establishment. The rest are rubber stamp servants of the War Mongers Club.
The media trys to make a "horserace" to get people interested in THEIR candidates. The Media's candidates are 'pure horse-hockey'.
The only thing free is our freedom of speech..for now.