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Bull's-eye on Romney's back for 2nd debate
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Related Topics: COLUMBIA, S.C.
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Mitt Romney faces an uphill challenge in the second GOP Presidential debate to be held Tuesday night.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Map, News) - The good news for Mitt Romney is that many pundits declared him the winner of the first Republican presidential debate. The bad news is that the former Massachusetts governor might have a bull's-eye on his back for the second debate, which will be held here Tuesday night at the University of South Carolina.
"The better we do, the greater the incentive there is for other campaigns to try and attack us," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said. "I would not be surprised to see others spend less time talking about their campaign and more time about ours."
A spokesman for Sen. John McCain suggested that the Arizona maverick is more interested in making the case for himself than going after Romney. But when asked about the media buzz that Romney won the first debate, the McCain spokesman took a veiled swipe at Romney's conservative credentials.
"When people looked at the candidates and saw John McCain, they saw someone who represented the core beliefs of our party," McCain spokesman Danny Diaz said.
McCain supporters concede that he got off to a slow start in the first debate, which was held May 3 in California, before hitting his stride halfway through the 90-minute exchange.
Many political analysts said McCain performed better than GOP front-runner Rudy Giuliani, whose response to an abortion question was widely criticized.
A Giuliani spokeswoman said the former New York mayor has no intention of targeting his Republican rivals in tonight's debate, which is being moderated by Brit Hume of Fox News Channel.
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"Rudy considers both Governor Romney and Senator McCain friends - he was happy to campaign for both of them," Giuliani spokeswoman Katie Levinson said. "And he's made clear that this campaign is not going to be about personal attacks; it's going to be about his record and about his vision for the future."
In addition to Romney, McCain and Giuliani, who are considered top-tier candidates for the GOP nomination, seven lesser-known Republicans will participate in tonight's debate.
These include former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose performance in the first debate received generally high marks.
Also on stage will be former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who apologized after saying in the first debate that an employer should be allowed to fire workers for being gay.
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4:50 PM MST on Mon., Dec. 31, 2007 re: "Romney spends to spread name"
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Athanassios said:
Nice...
113 agree | 132 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Hmmm... conservatives for more government oversight into the lives of private citizens. President Bush has started a nifty little trend.
253 agree | 255 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This is an out and out LIE! Romney does not rocket to the front of the pack, RON PAUL is the one rocketing to the front. A true patriot who stands for, fights for, and believes in the Consitution Of The United States Of America. He works FOR the people of this country, not against us. An honest man who believes in the rule of law. His voting record stands for itself! Whoever wrote this story really should do his/her research!
262 agree | 252 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Romney flip-flops on alot of issues.
265 agree | 261 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Mormon constituents? I really hope that the Latter-Day Saints are not the only ones that think there should be less pornography in the world. If porn is not something that “really matters” then I suggest a little more time watching news. Every sex offender started off with a dirty magazine or watching sleaze on the internet or TV, before he decided to rape someone. The last I heard, rape occurs every three minutes. Pornography is a serious problem and you don’t need to be religious to see that it’s an addiction that can destroy lives.
341 agree | 333 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How about something that really matters?? I mean who is going to challenge him on that position?? Let's try something that truly matters like health care or financial reform. But not for this latest production of the GOP.....let's take a stand on an issue that no one will have a counter point to and you can look good for your real constituents, the mormom religion. Did'nt we have enough religious rightiousness in the white house for the last 8 years??????? He's better than Rudi though......wait until Rudi tugs on the 9-11 sympathy strings, every night starting next year. Sleeze does'nt even begin to describe it...
375 agree | 335 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I am an independent voter, and I usually vote more D's than R's, but I find Romney very intriguing. He's wildly successful and insanely rich. I don't think money will be an issue for him. No worries. I like the fact he's not from Washington and he brings new and creative ideas to solve problems. He almost makes being conservative seem cool! It's time for a change and why not give Romney an opportunity to see what he can accomplish in that DC cesspool. He's been good at everything else he's tried. He has to be better than any of the current yahoos in Washington.
250 agree | 284 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Go Mitt!
388 agree | 276 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Of course he's had to spend the big bucks to catch up in name recognition to worldly renowned Rudolph Giluiani, former presidential candidate John McCain and Hollywood actor Fred Thompson. If anyone can manage his money it's Romney. He's turned everything he's touched into a goldmine. the USA needs someone smart and sharp like him in the White House. Time to clean house --- we need a change. Mitt would be great. Nomore insider politicians -- let someone new and innovative have a chance.
268 agree | 296 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Jim, there is a difference between campaign expenditures and government expenditures. The two are such separate issues that it is really misleading to compare the two. Find me a candidate who doesn't spend as much as they can because of "fiscal responsibility," and I will show you an idiot who can't win an election. The main difference in justification, by the way, is that campaigns are based on voluntary donations, as opposed to taxes which are mandated. DUH.
283 agree | 277 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Romney is running a smart campaign. People don't understand that the "horse race" evaluation of who is doing better or worse at any given time isn't what matters. What matters is that you peak at the right time. He is building a base right now that will let him peak later, including not only early-state infrastructure, but also a larger donor base. Romney now has 80,000 individual donors, more than any other GOP candidate. My only worry is that that is a lot less than the Democrats (Obama has more than 200,000 donors), so he has a lot of catching up to do. He's got to do that in the 3rd and 4th quarters, and if he does, he will win. Republicans definitely can't nominate Thompson. He has all the "right positions" but the GOP needs a competent candidate. We learned from GWB what you get with all the right positions but no competence.
245 agree | 272 disagree
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Jim Boxter said:
Call it investing, call it spending, he sounds like a Democrat when he makes excuses for spending more than he brings in. Do we really need another 8 years of Republicans that are going to grow the national debt even more and make us dependent on China and Japan? Will Romney spend his own money to help when there are huge deficits in the treasury?
307 agree | 268 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Romney is a Mormon. I feel they are a cult. They tried to convert my family for 7 years. Romney is scarey. Any man who straps his family dog on the roof of his car until the terrified canine lost control of it's bowels, and he had to then pull over somewhere and wash off the back window, and continue on his trip...well, that man should be tarred and feathered and put into stocks in the town square. I would rather go to hell, then vote for the perfect robotoid GOP cult member. Follow one huge mistake by voting in another? Is America insane? g.g. schaumburg
363 agree | 251 disagree
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Sue Davis said:
Lets' look at the spouses for a change: 1. Clinton; he is a hoe, among other things. 2. Obama; she's a Muslim. 3. Edwards; she is dying & not really in the running. but she is very negative and spiteful towards other candidates. 4.Guiliani; a very aggressive manipilator; dishonest, home-wrecker. with no class. 5.Thompson; looks like Freds' granddaughter.(How balanced is that thinking?) 6.McCain: once hooked on herion, always hooked on something. we need no drugs in white house. 7.Romney; perfect Lady, perfect family.
330 agree | 296 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
McCain the only thing his balls are doing is dragging the ground
301 agree | 252 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Seems like another silver spoon fed candiate.I cannot see how this guy can relate to the avg salaried worker,but this is the case with most canidates.Seems like a democrat running as a republican,granted he is a gov in a very liberal state.Romney will never run out of money,the guy is loaded.Romney is a great business man,everything this guy has been invovled in turns to gold.(staples,olympics,etc)Dad was loaded too.I know I do not want McCain,Guiliuani,or Thompson a couple of has-beens and a wannabe, you decide which fits the three amigos.I would like to know more about Romneys plan for Iraq.romney seems to change his mind alot,as I have gotten older I have changed my mind on a few issues as well.Still undecided but romney does have some appeal.
253 agree | 253 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
He'll have plenty of money for his monthly 300 dollar make-up purchases. He always does look so pretty on the tv. Maybe when the election is over, he and John Edwards can start a reality show "Primp my Candidate".
356 agree | 263 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Note: In MI, Mitt's Dad George gave us a state income tax. We did not need another IRS. The only GOP candidate with balls is John McCain.
350 agree | 253 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
He won't run out of money because he will loan his campaign the money from his personal funds. I don't see Romney going up much more in the polls. Republicans just aren't interested in his liberal positions. Romney care anyone?
346 agree | 298 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Strikes me as a better candidate than most I've seen. We ignored John Kennedy being a Catholic, maybe it's time we ignore someone being a Mormon. I'm not LDS myself, but the ones I have known have been good honest and fair business people. They've always been known to me to do the right thing and are great upholders of the Constitution.
339 agree | 279 disagree
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TaylorH said:
Romney is a class act. While McCain has made nasty little comments about Romney, Romney has gone out of his way to emphasize his respect for McCain as a friend and as a worthy competitor. While McCain has failed to raise funds and lost many of his senior campaign staff, Romney base of support has continued to grow -- much to the chagrin of pundits who look for any negative spin they can find to diminish his candidacy. But from the polls in the states where Romney has been most active, you can see that his message and approach is resonating with the primary voters. I'm increasingly optimistic that we may actually get someone in the White House with a well-rounded package of tremendous leadership skills, personal integrity, and thorough understanding of the fragile position the US holds in global relations today. For the good of our nation I hope other Americans come to a similar realization.
286 agree | 257 disagree
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MJ said:
I really think there are quality candidates to choose from...however if I had to choose, Romney seems to be the one that has the more total package. When you look at the reasons why people don't like Bush, those are areas Romney excels in. Competent, a great manager and organizer, well-spoken and is man whose strength is getting results. It's not to say that other candidates wouldn't do similar things...but Romney seems to be the one that would lead the charge and is most qualified to do so.
268 agree | 344 disagree
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AKSurprise said:
I seriously think that Ron Paul is writing all the comments in forums himself. Seriously if he truly had wide support he'd have more money. He's in a ship with more holes than McCain's. Ron Paul.....ROFLMAO
344 agree | 279 disagree
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Bill Moore said:
He'll run out of money, he has $12 million on hand, but he has $9 million worth of debt. He's losing money fast so he has to stick up for McCain because he will soon be in the same boat. Ron Paul will soon have more than McCain and Romney with Guiliani in his sights.
328 agree | 332 disagree
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Jon said:
Go Mitt! We need you to be our president!
336 agree | 277 disagree
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