NPR: Romney Attacks Huckabee's Crime-Fighter Credentials

Romney Attacks Huckabee's Crime-Fighter Credentials

On the defensive in Iowa, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney continues to try to undermine surging support for his Republican rival Mike Huckabee. Tomorrow, Romney launches a new television ad in Iowa that takes aim at Huckabee's credentials as a crime-fighter.

The ad notes that in 10 years as governor of Arkansas, Huckabee granted pardons or commuted the sentences of more than a thousand convicts - more than his three predecessors combined. Romney pardoned no one during his four years in the Massachusetts governor's office.

Like another Romney ad that debuted last week, suggesting Huckabee is soft on illegal immigration, this one acknowledges that both candidates are "pro-life governors," and that "both support a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage." In that way, Romney may be trying to piggyback on Huckabee's newfound support from social conservatives.

- Scott Horsley

4:04 PM ET | 12-17-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

This is really sad on Romney's part. This is his 2nd negative ad on Huckabee. McCain was right. Why don't cabdidates run on their own merits instead of bashing the other candidate. Romney never learns. And he wonders why he lost his lead in Iowa.

Sent by Charles | 8:40 PM ET | 12-17-2007

Run on your own merits Mitt, don't lie about Governor Huckabee. Specifically; the Meth punishment in Arkansas is twice that of Mass. And the ratio of commutations to inmates in Arkansas remained the same, in other words more people were put in prison under Huckabee. Besides, a Governor who does not commute a single sentence is just using his Governorship as a stepping stone to the Presidency.
Mitt was a Republican Governor in a LONG line of Republican Governors in a blue state. Huckabee was the first Republican Governor in a LONG time in his blue state.

Sent by Eric Worthington | 4:42 PM ET | 12-18-2007

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