The New York Times-20080126-After Break For Debate- Two Rivals Resume Spat
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After Break For Debate, Two Rivals Resume Spat
A day after a relatively reserved debate in which they appeared to take pains to avoid attacking each other, Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney on Friday engaged in their most vigorous sniping since their back-and-forth before the New Hampshire primary over two weeks ago.
Mr. McCain dismissed Mr. Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and a successful business executive, as a mere manager at a time when the American people are looking for a leader. Mr. Romney responded that he had experience in the real economy, far more useful than time on K Street and in Washington, D.C.
With Florida's primary just four days away, polls indicate the two men are in a tight race for the lead, with Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas farther back.
All the candidates are hoping for momentum from a victory heading into the crush of states that hold nominating contests on Feb. 5. Should Mr. McCain win, it could help him secure his status as the Republican front-runner and lay to rest any doubts that he can unite his party around him.
After his victories in Michigan and Nevada last week, Mr. Romney is looking to win in a heavily-contested state to begin narrowing the race to a two-person contest with Mr. McCain, of Arizona.
Mr. McCain got an important boost on Friday with the endorsement of Senator Mel Martinez of Florida, who worked closely with him last year on the failed bill that would have created a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants.
Mr. Martinez, a Cuban immigrant, indicated as recently as this week that he would probably not endorse anyone. His support should help Mr. McCain with Florida's Cuban-Americans, who play a significant role in the state party.
Speaking Friday evening in Miami to the Latin Builders Association, a heavily Cuban-American group that Mr. Huckabee, Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Romney addressed earlier in the day, Mr. Martinez said of Mr. McCain, Here's a man who 'habla claro' -- he talks straight.
It was Mr. McCain who went on the offensive first on Friday, arguing while speaking to reporters aboard his campaign bus in Fort Lauderdale that his experience as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee dealing with national economic policy issues was better preparation for the presidency than Mr. Romney's years as a financial executive.
Running an investment company is probably a good thing to do, Mr. McCain said. Making national policy concerning the national economy is probably more beneficial to the nation.
He went on: Americans want leaders; they don't want managers. I can hire all the managers I need.
I've led, he added. I've led the largest squadron in the United States Navy. Not for profit, but for patriotism.
Moreover, Mr. McCain said, Massachusetts struggled economically during Mr. Romney's tenure as governor.
Mr. Romney, who helped to found a prominent private equity firm, struck back hard at Mr. McCain on Friday afternoon at a rally attended by several hundred people in Pensacola.
After vigorously attacking Mr. McCain in television commercials and on the stump in New Hampshire, only to lose the primary there, Mr. Romney had recently been going out of his way to avoid attacking him.
I guess Senator McCain didn't think as positively of that debate last night as I did, Mr. Romney said, and so he's had to come back and flail a bit.
Mr. Romney mocked Mr. McCain's insistence that time on the Commerce Committee better qualified him. I think he's detoured from what was some straight talk, he said.
Seeking to insert himself into the debate despite his slide in the polls, Mr. Giuliani argued at a 9 p.m. event in Sarasota that he was both versed in economic and a leader.
Floridians deserve someone who has been tested and proven in both areas, he said. And that's me.
