Sorting Fact From Fiction In Romney Attack Ads

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Romney's Dirty Politics Backfiring With Voters

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- With some of the strongest language he's ever used -- words such as "ruthless," "dishonest," "desperate" -- Mike Huckabee, the normally sunny former governor of Arkansas criticized his chief challenger in Iowa, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has been attacking him fiercely in person, in TV ads and in mailings as Huckabee passes him in polls here.

"He's been attacking me just ruthlessly in the mail and on television and distorting the record," Huckabee told a throng of reporters in a mall parking lot. "And I think we need to get the record straightened up. And get the truth out. ... The attacks have been desperate, and I think they've been dishonest."

Asked if his and Romney's fighting might not create an opening for a third candidate, Huckabee smiled. "I don't plan to fight with him. He's throwing punches and I'm saying Merry Christmas." (Read more...)

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Huckabee Trend Continues

From David Brody:

"Speaking of Romney, he is outspending Huckabee 20 to 1 and yet Huckabee is leading in the polls and now has a boat load of media attention. A lot has been made of his connection with Evangelical Christians and of course, that’s a big deal. But Huckabee seems to be appealing to a wider audience than that. Here in West Des Moines he said he represents the “crackers and cheese’ crowd, not the “wine and cheese crowd.” (Read more...)

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A Mike Huckabee Christmas

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Mentally Unstable Man Attacks In New Hampshire

No, I'm not talking about the man who took hostages in Hillary Clinton's campaign office. I am talking about Mitt Romney. Romney's poll numbers continue to plummet and he is doing what all wild animals do when trapped, he is lashing out.

I think everyone knew all along that he had the capacity for turning mean, but his new negative campaign is causing those who had previously supported him to reconsider. Does he really have the character required when a President of the United States is faced with high pressure, high stress situations? I think we will continue to see his poll numbers deteriorate in future weeks when his mudslinging does not resonate with discerning New Hampshire voters.

As one Republican voter put it, "He will do whatever he thinks it takes to win. He will flip-flop on policy, or flip-out on an opponent."

Meanwhile, we have the following report of Huckabee's activities in New Hampshire;

Mike Huckabee was surrounded in New Hampshire yesterday by a pack of press that's grown with his increasing poll numbers. Reporters asked him to respond to attacks launched by his Republican opponents on his tax and immigration records, as CNN's Anderson Cooper waited for his exclusive.

"I'm going to let Mitt Romney explain all of his positions - and there's plenty of them to explain," Huckabee said, responding to a question about his chief rival in Iowa, who recently stepped up his criticism of the former Arkansas governor. "I'm not running so much against Mitt Romney. I want to be the people's president. And that's why I think people are beginning to respond to me. They know that I believe what I believe . . . They don't hear a lot of different things from me than what I'm saying today."

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Thompson Going Negative, A Response

Press Release: Huckabee Campaign Manager Responds To Thompson Negative Attacks

November 25, 2007

Little Rock, AR - Huckabee for President Campaign Manager Chip Saltsman issued the following statement today in response to news releases by the Thompson campaign about Governor Mike Huckabee:

"The desperate attacks on Governor Huckabee by Fred Thompson are evidence that Fred's show is running out of material and he's left to cranking out re-runs. Fred has been confused about being pro-life, but Governor Huckabee never has been. Governor Huckabee helped successfully lead the passage of human life amendment in his state and as governor signed numerous pro-life bills. Fred was taking money as a Washington lobbyist to be a mouthpiece for a pro-abortion group when Governor Huckabee was leading the March for Life. Governor Huckabee always has supported a Human Life Amendment, but also knows that the repeal of Roe v. Wade is better than the current laws.

"The Thompson campaign is also distorting Governor Huckabee's views on illegal immigration by failing to recognize that sealing the border is his top priority. Regarding legislation to stop illegals from getting drivers' licenses, Act 2210 of 2005 was signed into law by Governor Huckabee. The legislation made it illegal for a driver's license to be issued to anyone who could not prove legal residency in Arkansas.

"It's not surprising that Fred has hired an attack dog to churn out the very kind of 'hit and run' politics that Americans are sick of. Governor Huckabee is rising to Fred's fall precisely because he is telling America what he would do to solve America's problems while Fred is left to trying to resort to political dumpster diving."

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