McCain, Romney Label Each Other "Liberal"

Florida Campaign Growing Increasingly Caustic On Eve Of GOP Primary

(AP)  Mitt Romney and John McCain accused each other Monday of harboring liberal tendencies, a charge bordering on blasphemy in the increasingly caustic campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Romney struck first on the day before the winner-take-all Florida primary, criticizing the Arizona senator for his legislation reducing the role of money in politics, for his position on immigration and for his support of an energy bill that he said would have driven up consumer costs.

"If you ask people, 'Look at the three things Senator McCain has done as a senator,' if you want that kind of a liberal Democratic course as president, then you can vote for him," Romney told campaign workers. "But those three pieces of legislation, those aren't conservative, those aren't Republican, those are not the kind of leadership that we need as we go forward."

McCain answered swiftly, accusing the former Massachusetts governor of "wholesale deception of voters. On every one of the issues he has attacked us on, Mitt Romney was for it before he was against it."

He added, "The truth is, Mitt Romney was a liberal governor of Massachusetts who raised taxes, imposed with Ted Kennedy a big government mandate health care plan that is now a quarter of a billion dollars in the red, and managed his state's economy incompetently, leaving Massachusetts with less job growth than 46 other states."

McCain later told a Jacksonville audience that Romney has been "entirely consistent. He's consistently taken at least two sides of every issue, sometimes more than two."

The exchange reflected the stakes in Tuesday's contest, a prelude to a virtual nationwide primary on Feb. 5.

The polls show McCain and Romney in a state race that is too close to call.

McCain collected endorsements in recent days from Florida's top two Republican elected officials, Sen. Mel Martinez and Gov. Charlie Crist, as well as the endorsements of a slew of Florida newspapers. The former Vietnam prisoner of war also has universal name recognition, as well as ownership of an issue important to the large number of veterans and active military in the state, national security.

But Romney has a get-out-the-vote effort in the state that has been at work on early voters as well as those seeking to cast absentee ballots.

A former businessman, he has campaigned as the man with the credentials to shore up the economy, a counter to McCain's national security credentials.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are also on the ballot, but recent surveys have shown them fading. Giuliani declined to join the fray.

"My opponents are fighting each other, calling each other names. Let them do that. We're not going to call anybody names. I want Florida to send a message that the kind of candidate you want and the kind of president you want is one that can remain focused on positive goals," Giuliani told an audience in Sanford, Fla.

McCain is expected to do well in areas with a strong military presence - Pensacola, Jacksonville and Tampa. He's also hoping for a strong turnout in Miami, with its Cuban-American population, and Orlando, a melting pot with a strong Puerto Rican community.

Romney is fighting for the southwest part of the state around Fort Myers and Sarasota; it's much like the Midwest, where he was raised. Another likely stronghold for him, Palm Beach and Broward County, home to many Northeastern transplants.

Up for grabs is the corridor between Tampa and Daytona Beach along Interstate 4, a swing part of the state that has seen much growth and is home to roughly two-thirds of the Republican primary vote.

Romney was in West Palm Beach while McCain was in Jacksonville as they set out on their final full day of Florida campaigning.

Addressing phone bank workers who came out to the airport to see him off on a state flyaround, Romney said three key bills that McCain pushed in Congress steered the country on "a liberal Democrat course."

Romney said the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law "hit the First Amendment" with its controls over advertising spending.

He labeled last year's failed McCain-Kennedy immigration bill "the amnesty bill" because it would have allowed illegal immigrants to remain in the country indefinitely. Romney also said a 2003 McCain-Lieberman energy cap-and-trade bill would have increased energy costs for the average Florida family of four by $1,000.

He also drew chuckles from his audience when he recalled there was talk during the 2004 campaign of McCain teaming up with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the Democratic presidential nominee, on the opposing party's ticket.

"Had someone asked me that question, there would not have been a nanosecond of thought about it; it would have been an immediate laugh," Romney said. "And, of course, if someone asked him if he would consider me as a running mate, he would have also laughed immediately."

During a news conference, Romney also criticized Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who has drawn large crowds in his bid for the presidency.

Asked how he would counter Obama if he were the nominee, Romney said "the nation will divide in two parts - politically at least."

He said of his supporters: "Some may be less demonstrative in how they show their support for that vision, but I believe fundamentally that America is not interested in following a socialistic-style, government-run nation."

Emphasizing his signature issue, McCain toured the grounds of Atlantic Machine, which builds Navy ships and commercial vessels, before holding a round-table in one of the company's warehouses with national security experts, including Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and former Veterans Affairs Secretary Tony Principi.

In his statement issued before the event, McCain likened Romney to Kerry over the weekend in a Web ad that superimposed the face of the former governor on an image of the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate windsurfing. The campaign also acknowledged that it has been running a radio ad statewide in Florida since Friday that assails Romney's record.

[news4all]

It''s finally being reported on the ABC News site that McCain has the most lobbyists of any of the candidates and that he won''t disclose the total amount of money he''s received. He is bought and paid for and if elected, he won''t be able to change anything in Washington!

[treber5]

Well, they''re both right. McCain is a liberal and so is Romney. In fact Huckabee is a social consevative, but he is a liberal fiscally. Giuliani is a liberal all over and I''m not sure what he''s doing running as a republican. I liked Fred Thompson, but with him out of the race the only conservative fiscally, socially and economically thats left is Ron Paul. Who would have thought that 4 months ago.

[kyleedwin]

The more I see of McCain, the less I like him. The more of Romney I see, the more I like him. It appears to me that McCain has engaged in the same kind of ''dirty politics'' that he whined about so much in South Carolina in 2000 the last few days. This Texas is hoping Romney pulls this one out in Florida.

[news4all]

McCain''s team started the "flip-flopping" name calling and unfortunately the media loved it and has been perpetuating it all the while.

Romney changed for the better! He has not back-tracked on any issues (flip-flopped), but McCain has (Bush tax cuts to name just one). McCain doesn''t care as much about the truth as he does about winning. His "straight shooter" policy is to set aside morals and shoot his target in a manner that will inflict the most damage. He even uses the military as a shield when confronted with his lies. He was a hero in Vietnam, but that was a long time ago. He has proven himself to be a dishonest man with a hot-tempered disposition since then. He is fixated on war and can''t see the larger picture. Our economy needs to be fixed if we are to help our troops and strengthen our defense.

Romney is the only candidate with the education, experience, integrity, self-control, leadership ability, and vision that can fix the economy. He knows how to call the experts in on all the other issues as well and has a track record to prove it (as governor, in business and at the Olympics).

[pixelslinger]

.... Rfeld, I know you pullsed those ''facts'' out of your ***, and so do you. People like you are the reason the TVA wasn''t such a good idea.

I think everyone is entitled to a voice, I just don''t think everyone is entitled to a microphone.

[merlgrey]

romney double size of guantanamo... another fear mongerer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0U9k7Jj_40

[merlgrey]

mccain promising more war:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP-mk7Vri_g

[brianbwb-2009]

Calling each other Liberal? After what the so called "conservatives" have done to our country, that name is now be a badge of honor.

[candide777]

If I was addressing the republican party I would say we are not be worried for this candidate election but worried for His Ideas!
Posted by pilgrimsway at 11:06 PM : Jan 28, 2008

Huh? Do we need to oil your mouth or something? Or, do you need a brain?

[smirk5]

I want McCain to win the GOP nomination. He looks good in the current polls nationwide. That''s because Americans remember him from 8 years ago. Once they get a good look at him now, they''ll see a confused, old man that doesn''t have near the handle on the issues that Clinton or Obama have. He''ll be easy meat.

[sparks224]

I think Obama is a terrorist because his name rhymes with Osama. That''s how smart I am.

[prayerman3]

J. F. Kennedy is probably turning in his grave. I can''''t believe that J. F. Kennedy his daughter said that Obama is just like the man her father was . Obama isn''''t even close. Obama doesn''''t equal one hair of J. F. Kennedy. If Obama refuse his pay check IF he became PRESIDENT and put it back in to the deficit then you might say he would be about 10% of J. F. Kennedy. The Kennedy''''s add another curse to their family, poor judgement of backing a muslim not a true christian. I said it before I will say it again .
AMERICAN PEOPLE PLEASE WAKE UP. LOOK AT WHAT EACH CANDIDATE HAS DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO THEY HAVE TO OFFER.

lOOK AT HOW MANY TIMES THAT EACH CANDIDATE VOTED AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Hillary did more then all the first Ladys combined for our country. Take a look of how many organizations she was in and supported. How many times she was asked her option and how many times she got to vote on the agenda. She has far more experience then all the candidates combined.
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE OR SALE OUR COUNTRY TO THE WORLD BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT. START WATCHING OR LISTENING FOR THE TRUMPETS TO SOUND AND THE LORD JESUS TO COME

[pilgrimsway-2009]

The Muslims are chanting Victory!!!!!! For the person who might be in office of president!

True there is a thing about taking a calculated risk on programs etc. But to buck the trend and say all for change is not an entrepreneur%u2019s way of addressing a need. I do not know if any of you personally been in companies that adopted this change theory I have. Let me tell you in every case known to me and in online data these companies have ended up ruined!
If I was addressing the republican party I would say we are not be worried for this candidate election but worried for His Ideas!

[bill1fj]

Why vote for either of these two, vote for the Huck.

[nearl4511]

Wow. Now they are complimenting each other on their open mindedness and their flexibility in solving problems.

BRAVO!

[kansas1946]

LOL. The Republican cannibalism continues. Poor Republicans. If they only had a candidate.

[denn034]

"Makes you wonder how Mitt can heap praise on Hinckley, not because he replaced his grandfather in the heirarchy, but because Hinckley was in this scandle up to his neck...certainly not an honorable man by any standard of common decency."
Posted by careroevil

Hinckley and the church was conned by Hoffman. Hoffman should be the one condemned not Hinckley and the church where that''s concerned. It should also be noted that many other churches restrict their archives as well.

[lone-star5]

Mitt Romney is the true conservative, and true conservatives know this. WE THE PEOPLE are smart enough to think for ourselves, and we will vote for the candidate of our choice. I have made my decision, and I will vote for Mitt Romney for President of the United States of America, and nothing will sway that decision!

[jackie0428]

Neoconism, you''ve either had an exceptionally strange life, or you''re exceptionally good...at making sh*t up. You''re the very first person I''ve ever heard with tales of a pattern of Mormons lying and cheating. I suspect your wife left your for some handsome, employed, well-endowed Mormon, and you simply can''t get over it. So, you sit alone at home, eat your canned beans, and collect your welfare checks. You''re a sad excuse for a human being, and since you hate people simply because of their religion, I guess that makes you a bigot as well.

[jjloveyaya]

Sorry if I recall too much bad history but I just forgot that Americans have a very short term memory for political stuff.

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