ScreamingEagle
Gold Member
- Jul 5, 2004
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December 13, 2007
Mitt Romney dismissed rival Mike Huckabee as a bit player in the presidential sweepstakes Thursday, saying the former Arkansas governor's liberal views would unravel him when the campaign moved past Iowa.
"Long term, the biggest challenges come from Mayor [Rudy] Giuliani and Senator [John] McCain," Mr. Romney told The Dallas Morning News in a telephone interview. "Governor Huckabee will be a serious competitor in a heavily evangelical state like Iowa, but I don't think long term he emerges as the major challenge."
….
Mr. Romney then blasted Mr. Huckabee's record as Arkansas governor, saying he supported in-state tuition breaks for illegal immigrants, pardoned more than a thousands convicted criminals, increased spending and raised taxes.
"His record and position on key issues will be unacceptable to most Republican voters," Mr. Romney said. "He's a social-issues conservative like myself, but he has a more liberal-leaning history on some of the economic and crime-related issues."
….
Mr. Huckabee has enjoyed a surge in the polls, even leading Iowa in some. So he and Mr. Romney have for several days locked into a personal battle, not just for Iowa, but also for conservative and evangelical voters.
On Monday, Mr. Huckabee said voters were taking a look at him because they wanted change.
"A lot of people are just tired of business as usual in politics," he said. "They like the positive message. They see in me something that they see in themselves."
Mr. Romney, who was in California on Thursday night for a fundraiser and a visit to his newest grandson, said he was still confident he could win the Iowa caucuses.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...tional/stories/121407dnpolromney.29a0dd5.html
Mitt Romney dismissed rival Mike Huckabee as a bit player in the presidential sweepstakes Thursday, saying the former Arkansas governor's liberal views would unravel him when the campaign moved past Iowa.
"Long term, the biggest challenges come from Mayor [Rudy] Giuliani and Senator [John] McCain," Mr. Romney told The Dallas Morning News in a telephone interview. "Governor Huckabee will be a serious competitor in a heavily evangelical state like Iowa, but I don't think long term he emerges as the major challenge."
….
Mr. Romney then blasted Mr. Huckabee's record as Arkansas governor, saying he supported in-state tuition breaks for illegal immigrants, pardoned more than a thousands convicted criminals, increased spending and raised taxes.
"His record and position on key issues will be unacceptable to most Republican voters," Mr. Romney said. "He's a social-issues conservative like myself, but he has a more liberal-leaning history on some of the economic and crime-related issues."
….
Mr. Huckabee has enjoyed a surge in the polls, even leading Iowa in some. So he and Mr. Romney have for several days locked into a personal battle, not just for Iowa, but also for conservative and evangelical voters.
On Monday, Mr. Huckabee said voters were taking a look at him because they wanted change.
"A lot of people are just tired of business as usual in politics," he said. "They like the positive message. They see in me something that they see in themselves."
Mr. Romney, who was in California on Thursday night for a fundraiser and a visit to his newest grandson, said he was still confident he could win the Iowa caucuses.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...tional/stories/121407dnpolromney.29a0dd5.html
