Romney-McCain sniping intensifies

John McCain's antipathy for Mitt Romney -- a distaste that goes beyond the normal bristling between highly competitive presidential candidates -- has been obvious for some time.

Back in the spring, even as his own campaign was short-circuiting, McCain barbs sparked by Romney's multiple position reversals carried particular venom. And last month, during the Republican YouTube debate, McCain's disdain for and disgust with Romney as they sparred over waterboarding -- as in, is it torture? -- was palpable. Here's a memory refresher (and note how McCain avoids even looking in his rival's direction).

On Friday, the chill between the two deepened.

As the McCain crew roused itself in New Hampshire, where its man has crept up in most polls, Romney was ready with a new television ad targeting him. After the spot's voiceover narrator praises McCain (calling him "an honorable man"), he then seeks to bury him, scolding the Arizona senator ...

on taxes and illegal immigration, hot-button issues for the GOP base.

Part of the script: "McCain pushed to let every illegal immigrant stay here permanently, and even voted to allow illegals to collect Social Security." (See the ad here, in its entirety.)

These assertions skated over a few details. As The Times' Maeve Reston, who is camped in New Hampshire, noted in a dispatch, controversial legislation McCain backed earlier this year called for illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. the two previous years to leave. And to collect Social Security payments based on payroll taxes they already paid, Illegal immigrants first would have to become citizens.

Various McCain aides, as well as the candidate himself, vented about the ad. Ultimately, the campaign pulled together its own short, not-so-sweet spot. It steers away from any point-by-point response to the Romney claims, settling for lambasting him on general principles. (See it here.)

Late in the day, Romney's chief spokesman, Kevin Madden, put in his two cents. McCain, he said in a statement, “has a troubling history of neglecting substantive issues and getting personal in his attacks against those who happen to disagree with him. It’s the McCain way."

The Romney campaign also composed this release ("The Straight Talk Detour").

The back-and-forth no doubt will continue. And the already very, very, very long odds against a McCain/Romney ticket (or vice versa) will grow even more.

On the Iowa front, Romney launched another attack that had a different target -- Mike Huckabee. The Times' Michael Finnegan and Joe Mathews wrapup the GOP battle here.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[David]

Considering the sniping going on, it's interesting to view this flashback: Sen. McCain Endorses Mitt Romney:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA7JTDjG-Po

McCain referred to Romney as "a man who I have grown to know for his honesty, his decency, and his committment to America. I am proud to be in his company amongst you."

[Debrar]

ROMNEY for President 2008!!!

Ten Most Crooked Politician Awards

10. Senator Harry Reid
9. Representative Nancy Pelosi
8. Senator Barack Obama
7. Scooter Libby
6. Governor Mike Huckabee
5. Mayor Rudy Giulliani
4. Senator Diane Feinstein
3. Senator Larry Craig
2. Representative John Conyers First
and bestus Crooked Politician IS
1. Senator Hillary Clinton

Source: http://www.judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-announces-list-washington-s-ten-most-wanted-corrupt-politicians-2007

See source for details: Warning 3rd grade reading skills required

[marcio]

While McCain is guilty of dirty tricks, liberal Nixonian tactics and out and out lying! As a conservative I would only vote for the idiot in the general election if Romney is the VP. A promise by Mccain to die the day after he takes the oath of office would help too :)