Romney Hits McCain On Taxes, Immigration

GOP Candidates Takes On Rival In New Hampshire Advertising Push

(AP)  Mitt Romney takes GOP presidential rival John McCain to task on taxes and immigration in a new advertising push in New Hampshire as he seeks to fend off the Arizona senator's challenge.

"John McCain, an honorable man. But is he the right Republican for the future?" an announcer asks in the ad that starts airing Friday in New Hampshire, which holds the nation's first presidential primary on Jan. 8. "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."

For his part, McCain has a fresh commercial in New Hampshire that takes the high road by not mentioning Romney. Rather, it highlights the 20 newspapers in the state that have endorsed McCain and quotes their words of praise, including "McCain campaigns with decency." It adds: "All across New Hampshire newspapers agree. The choice is clear."

Romney's commercial assailing McCain - aides call it a "contrast" ad - comes as the race between the two men tightens in New Hampshire. The ad is in the same vein as spots Romney has been airing in Iowa against Mike Huckabee, casting him as soft on immigration and crime in an effort to retake the lead for the state's Jan. 3 caucuses.

The former Massachusetts governor'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.

Romney's 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. 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 battled Huckabee in Iowa, McCain has gained ground in New Hampshire and benefited from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's slippage in polls here. 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 the state and essentially camping out there as he seeks a repeat win - and a comeback after a near campaign implosion during the summer.

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.

[Krazcarl]

Yea like a follower of the stupid John Smith has any leverage over anyone he''s an idiot but nice about by the way I have found golden tablets you can''t see and they say I''m to lead the next empire trust me I have high ground in Fl. for sale cheap real cheap.

[perception5]

When 20 members of our corrupt wolfpack press endorses someone like Lone Ranger McCain in New Hampshire that should tell Republicans to run the other way.

When a Senator like Judd Gregg, a favorite son in New Hampshire, comes out and endorses Mitt Romney that should tell folks something else.

Folks in New Hampshire need to ask themselves "who do i trust more Republican Senator Gregg''s endorsement of Mitt Romney or the 20 endorsements that our corrupt wolfpack press gave to someone they "know" can''t win?

GO MITT!

[Razzl]

Romney has changed his position on everything a man his age should already have a considered opinion about, like abortion or torture, just to say what he thinks his audience wants to hear. Why should we believe he really has a position on any of these issues, and why should we care when he criticizes other candidates for their positions? He''s the ultimate Hillaryesque political rubber-man, a candidate without conscience who only really believes in getting himself elected and doesn''t care much about what words get said about what issues to get him there...

[Krazcarl]

perception5..I''m from Me. you idiots were succesion in the 80''s and thought it was funny, your state has the lowest IQ in the country one place I never stopped to spend cash just northern rednecks with no clue as your post has shown,,,Hear you do have some decent car racing but thats the only good thing I ever heard.

[quetzal666]

He who votes decides nothing; he who counts the votes decides everything." - Joseph Stalin

[random_radar]

The rich and powerful always rule in every nation. Voting is unimportant. Serving the interests of the rich and powerful is your path to success. Politicians already have learned that, and the sooner you learn it, the better off you will be. Democracy is a sham for naive fools.

[Krazcarl]

I have golden tablets that say you can have multiple wives and they have to be obedient to you if they will be cast into the lake of fire. This is what this idiot believes you really want him leading the nation,yes Bush is pathatic but bad for worse is not better.

[Krazcarl]

Does anyone take this moroon seriously. oh YEA JOESHIPH found golden tablrts no one has seen.

[Krazcarl]

You''d think he would stick up for his faith but no he skirts rhw it I have golden tabletes,,,,,MOROON

[forthepeopl1]

this is what you will get with missery hillary as PRESIDENT. she were the same traiter coat as bush/cheney

at all has to do with saudi''''s and the king with the help of bush/cheneny.9-11 was all bush/cheney/and the oil countrys


The U.S. military has returned 10 Saudi detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison to their home country, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday.

The transfer cuts the number of men now held at the isolated U.S. Naval station in southeast Cuba to about 275, a decline of nearly a third in the last year.

About 136 of the 759 people detained at Guantanamo since 2002 have been Saudi, the second-largest group after Afghans. The vast majority have been repatriated - despite the fact that more than 90 percent are still considered a terrorist threat.

The U.S. agreed to return the men with the understanding that Saudi Arabia will mitigate that risk, partly through a state program to reintegrate former detainees into civilian life, said Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, a Defense Department spokesman.

Their detention has been a source of strain with Riyadh, a close U.S. ally.

[lone-star5]

I totally agree with perception5''s comment. Mitt Romney has been consistently endorsed by the top GOP leaders in our country. He is a man of experience, intelligence, and vision. I am so excited to see that the Iowans have put him in the lead again in their polls. Way to go Iowa! Mitt Romney has my vote for President of the United States of America!