The New York Times-20080128-In Florida- Rivals Focus On Economy And Security

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In Florida, Rivals Focus On Economy And Security

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Mitt Romney and Senator John McCain continued their tug-of-war Sunday over what should be the top concern of voters in the Florida Republican primary on Tuesday -- the economy or national security.

On Sunday, Mr. Romney went on the offensive first, opening a new line of attack on Mr. McCain over economic issues and declining to continue the previous day's spat over Iraq, calling it yesterday's news at a news conference here.

Instead, Mr. Romney sought to revive an argument he used in Michigan. He took Mr. McCain to task for his proposal of a cap and trade system for carbon dioxide emissions, saying it would cause energy costs to skyrocket and be a drag on the economy.

That would depress the economy just at a time when we're trying to stimulate the economy, Mr. Romney said.

When he brought up this issue in Michigan, where the auto industry has a stake in the matter, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a policy adviser to Mr. McCain, said in an interview that Mr. McCain had always made clear that legislation would not go forward unless it included adequate safeguards for the economy.

Mr. McCain campaigned on Sunday morning in Tampa with Gov. Charlie Crist, who endorsed him on Saturday. Mr. McCain continued his focus on national security, touching only sparingly on the nation's economic jitters.

Even if the economy is the, quote, No. 1 issue, the real issue will remain America's security, Mr. McCain said to reporters, according to The Associated Press. And if they choose to say, 'Look, I do not need this guy because he's not as good on home loan mortgages' or whatever it is, I understand about that, I will accept that verdict. I am running because of the transcendental challenge of the 21st century, which is radical Islamic extremism.

Meanwhile, Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is trailing Mr. McCain and Mr. Romney in polls here, sought to turn his rivals' conflict to his advantage.

Mr. Giuliani spoke about terrorism at a synagogue in Boca Raton and courted voters at the Italian American Club in Vero Beach. For the third straight day, he seemed to try to avoid making any waves of his own, instead taking on the role of Greek chorus and tsk-tsking his rivals.

Well, I think my opponents should not be attacking each other, he said outside a pizzeria in Port St. Lucie.