Romney: McCain Is Being Dishonest
LAND O'LAKES, FLA. -- With just three days to go before the critical Florida GOP primary, frontrunners John McCain and Mitt Romney are locked in an escalating string of back and forth attacks. This afternoon, a reporter asked Romney to respond to McCain's accusation that Romney sought to have a phased withdrawal from Iraq.
"Governor Romney wanted to set a date for withdrawal similar to what the Democrats are seeking, which would have led to the victory of Al-Qaeda in my view," McCain said earlier today in Ft. Myers.
"You know, I don't know why he's being dishonest, but that's dishonest," Romney responded. "To say that I have a specific date is simply wrong and is dishonest and he should apologize. That is not the case, I've never said that."
Romney called for an apology from McCain after a kitchen table discussion on the economy at the home of Romney supporters Lenny and Marcy Guenette, a part-time paralegal and computer hardware manufacturer.
After Thursday night's relatively tame debate, it appeared that the Republican candidates were hoping to stay above the fray by not attacking one another, but the climate has quickly changed.
"It's fine for him to express his view on different topics, and I know he's trying desperately to change the topic from the economy and trying to get back to Iraq," Romney said. "But to say something that's not accurate is simply wrong and he knows better."
CBS News' Dante Higgins contributed to this report.