Romney Goes Negativer

Ambinder talks to Mitt Romney who has some tough words for Mike Huckabee beyond the immigration issue:

Given the widespread hostility to Huckabee among conservative elites and institutions, it seems to me that there's a decent possibility there's still enough time between now and the Iowa caucuses that they can beat his insurgency back. The fact that Huckabee hasn't made a real effort to defend his brand of big government conservatism on the merits leaves his very vulnerable to allegations of being a tax hiker, etc.

Comments

Romney's not bad on the attack--a little bit transparent and deliberate, but less so than when he's making the case for his own campaign.

He should try moving his arms a little though; he's doing a sort of gesture-less shoulder wriggle in this video that makes it look like he's either physically encumbered or descended from eels.

Posted by southpaw | December 11, 2007 6:51 PM

It almost seems like the next post:

Mike Huckabee heckled by robot in Iowa.

Posted by JDinBalt | December 11, 2007 7:22 PM

That's an interesting contrast on the pardon platform that Mitt points out - oh yeah, except when it comes to Scooter Libby. THEN, Romney intimated that he would sing a much different tune. Ahh...sweet, sweet, ideological consistency.

Posted by Augie | December 11, 2007 7:31 PM

Huckabee can win Iowa; he still won't win the nomination.

Republican candidates don't win the nomination without the support of the party establishment.

Drudge is obviously not a reliable source, but the reasoning invoked by his "sources" is sound. Huckabee is an easy kill. But the GOP isn't that stupid.

Posted by Jason C. | December 11, 2007 8:07 PM

Listen, folks, and listen well: the evangelicals have made up their collective mind, and Huckabee's the Chosen One. He's on the ticket, period, end of story -- probably as the VP but possibly at the top. If you think otherwise, you simply do not understand the inexorable power the evangelical bloc has over the current GOP.

Matt, with all due respect, you haven't spent much time among the Southern evangelicals so you can't fathom the complex stupidity of their worldview (not that that's a bad thing). The polls speak the truth: the evangelicals have cast their lot. The GOP nomination will come down to a battle between Huckabee and the anti-Huckabee -- I'm betting on McCain, especially if he wins New Hampshire. Otherwise, the evil Giuliani.

Posted by BryklynLibrul | December 11, 2007 9:18 PM

That, and blessedly we know more about this Ramney fellow's underpants than any presidential candidate since Bill Clinton.

I jest.

But if I was going to start a religion it might have official underpants too. Imagine being able to control the underpants of millions of people.

Posted by Linus | December 11, 2007 11:45 PM

Romney could say that a water molecule is formed from two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom and it would sound like a lie.

Posted by Julian Elson | December 12, 2007 2:34 AM

HI!
Thank-you for your service, everything has arrived without any hiccups.
:)

Posted by Dwight Richard | December 12, 2007 8:09 AM

Again, Romney opens by drawing parallels to Huckabee on his social conservative bona fides.

Did the religious right catch what Romney volunteered about non-believers? He considers them "assumed within the general purview of faith."

That's brilliant!

Posted by Sean | December 12, 2007 10:41 AM