McCain, Romney trade jabs at GOP debate
Published 10:26 pm Wednesday, January 30, 2008
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — In a spirited debate Wednesday night, Republican Mitt Romney accused John McCain of using shady tricks by suggesting the former Massachusetts governor wanted a deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
A day after McCain defeated him in Florida, Romney vented his frustrations about the Arizona senator’s claims over weekend.
“I have never, ever supported a specific timetable” for withdrawing troops, Romney said. McCain’s accusation, he said, “sort of falls into the dirty tricks that I think Ronald Reagan would have found reprehensible.”
McCain stuck to his guns, saying, “of course he said he wanted a timetable” for a withdrawal. McCain had made the allegation in Florida as he tried to shift the debate from the ailing economy, a stronger issue for Romney, a former venture capitalist and businessman.
Last April, Romney said U.S. and Iraqi leaders “have to have a series of timetables and milestones that they speak about” in private.
In Wednesday’s debate, held in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Romney said he was not calling for a specific withdrawal date.
Romney said the Arizona senator twice voted against President Bush’s tax cuts and pushed campaign finance reforms that restricted fundraising and spending. The Republican establishment embraced the tax cuts and opposed the new campaign law, which many saw as helpful to Democrats.
McCain disputed the claims. “I’m proud of my conservative record,” he said.
In a counter punch, he said Romney left Massachusetts with high taxes and a large debt. “His job creation was the third worst in the country,” McCain said, a claim Romney rejected.
McCain tried to deflect questions on illegal immigration, a sore point with many Republicans who resented his push for a Senate bill, ultimately unsuccessful, that would have granted a path to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants now in the country.
Asked if he would vote for his bill now, McCain replied, “it won’t” come to a vote “because people want the borders secured first.” He said he supports new efforts to prevent illegal crossings.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also participated in the debate televised by CNN, but largely watched as the two front-runners, who were seated next to each other, trade barbs.
What’s next
n Democrats Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois will debate at 5 p.m. today in Los Angeles, carried live by CNN.
n Maine Republicans hold their caucuses on Friday.
n The Herald on Sunday will present the major presidential candidates’ views on a number of issues.
n Tuesday, 24 states and American Samoa hold presidential contests.
