GOP candidates attack each other
Posted: Monday, October 15, 2007 5:52 PM by Cathy Finkler
Chris Matthews
"Hardball" host Chris Matthews gives his take on the day's top political headlines.
McCain rips Romney
The Republicans are finally going at it. Mitt Romney is delivering the canned claim that he speaks for "the Republican wing of the Republican party;" a line he stole from Howard Dean who said he was from the "Democratic wing of the Democratic party." Sen. John McCain was quick to nail him: "As you know, when he ran for office in Massachusetts, being a Republican wasn't much of a priority." Today McCain went further, suggesting that Romney is out to "con" the voter with his new image as a conservative.
Thompson targets Rudy
Come tonight, Rudy can expect to get a pummeling. Fred Thompson is set to give a speech on Rudy's home turf in which he'll say, "some think the way to beat the Democrats in November is to be more like them." That's according to released remarks. It's a not-so-thinly-veiled swipe at Giuliani.
Fred Thompson MIA
Meanwhile, where's Fred? The Associated Press reports that since our CNBC debate last week, Thompson has been entirely absent from the campaign trail. He even cancelled a fundraising breakfast in New Hampshire last week because of "scheduling conflicts." Maybe the big guy's hibernating.
Craig slams Romney
On the Larry Craig front, Matt Lauer's interview with the embattled senator airs tomorrow night on NBC's Dateline. But we already know one fascinating revelation: that Craig is directing at least some of his ire at Mitt Romney, the presidential candidate he had been boosting. You'll remember that Romney was quick to dump him after Craig's bathroom manners came to light. Craig tells Lauer that Romney "not only threw me under his campaign bus, he backed up and ran over me again."
Hillary gets hit
On the Democratic side, the Obamas are taking it to Hillary...and hard. When asked whether Hillary is a polarizing figure, Michelle told the Sunday Times of London she sure is.
