Rudy And Romney Trade Blows, Liken Each Other To John Kerry
Rudy and Mitt Romney engaged in another back-and-forth today, and this time each employed the ultimate insult among Republicans: Suggesting that the other is similar to John Kerry.
In a reference to Romney's debate assertion that he'd hash out with lawyers whether Congressional authorization is necessary for attacking Iran's nuke facilities (can't believe we're debating this), the Rudy campaign blasted out an email saying:
"SOUND FAMILIAR?""ANOTHER MASSACHUSETTS POLITICIAN ALSO WANTED A NATIONAL SECURITY TEST..."
This was a reference, of course, to John Kerry's "global test" line from 2004.
The Romney camp hit back with an email mocking Rudy for answering the same debate question with the words "exigent circumstances." Romney spokesman Kevin Madden emailed reporters a line that sounded like it was ripped right from the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign playbook:
“On the question of authorization and action against Iran, Mayor Giuliani offered the most muddled and puzzling response of anyone on the debate stage, preferring instead to rely on a vague explanation about ‘exigent circumstances.’”
Political debate, GOP-primary style.
It is incredible how Romney and Giuliani have made this a two-way race. At the debate yesterday too, they managed to make the other candidates look completely irrelevant. This is helping both of them, in my opinion. Full analysis here.
October 10, 2007 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
and, I'd say, it especially benefits Romney -- he looks pretty good next to Rudy, in many ways...
October 10, 2007 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Rudy could hit Romney on flip-flopping, it would be a different story.
Maybe Edwards and Obama should employ this strategy and just ignore Hillary. On the other hand, ganging up on Dean during the 2004 debates, even over slight differences, seemed to bring him down a notch.
October 10, 2007 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is why I don't buy the "less polarizing" arguments from Edwards and/or Obama. In 2003, Kerry was hardly polarizing or any sort of lightning rod for GOP invective. But over the course of the campaign, he became, in your words, "the ultimate insult among Republicans". The same will happen to any Dem candidate. I think this favors Hillary, but even if she's not the nominee, Dems should realize that the GOP is going to come after them and start bringing it up to better insulate themselves from the inevitable attacks.
But no, Obama and Edwards seem happy to give the GOP cover by insinuating they are less polarizing than Hillary.
October 10, 2007 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet you think this song is about you. . .
When Obama talks about not being polarizing he's referencing his track record of accomplishing progressive goals by building political consensus. Candidates whose experience does not include such successes think the song's about them. Don't they?
October 10, 2007 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know that Duncan Hunter hasn't got a chance in hell, but he should be highly criticized for his answer to Matthew's question; it's dictatorial!
MATTHEWS: If the United States CIA discovers it has a good target site for the bases where they‘re developing the facilities for building nuclear weapons, would you think the president should go to Congress for that or not? Can he do it on his own?
HUNTER: Yes. I would say if it‘s a long-term prospect, and there‘s no need, if there‘s not a fleeting target and there is also not the prospect that you‘re going to see these people bury it...
MATTHEWS: And if Congress refuses to give him that authority, should he still he be able to go?
HUNTER: I would, if...
MATTHEWS: Tough.
HUNTER: ... I thought that it was—that they were going to develop a nuclear device that would harm the American people. You‘ve got a Constitution. The Constitution says the president is commander-in-chief and that gives him certain inherent capabilities.
October 10, 2007 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink