January 01, 2008
Romney On Huck's Non-Ad Ad, And Says He Gave $$$ To His Campaign
JOHNSTON - As Mitt Romney winds his way in and around Des Moines today at "house party huddles" with his supporters, it's Mike Huckabee who is really on his mind.
Asked if he thought it was dishonest that Huckabee pulled a negative ad against him but then showed it to reporters, Romney said: "It does remind you a bit of person who stands up and says I'm not gonna call my opponent any names, but here's the names I'd call him if I were gonna call him names. And what he did yesterday didn't fool the media, and I don't think it'll fool the people of Iowa either."
But it's not just Huckabee's campaign tactics that have Romney counterpunching. He opened a press conference this morning with his disappointment in Huckabee for suggesting that President Bush lacks depth in national foreign policy knowledge. "The president has kept us safe over these last six years and is extraordinarily well-versed in matters of foreign policy," he said. He added, "I'm not sure whether Gov. Huckabee did the attack as a joke, but this is not a time to be mocking our president. And it was I think in bad taste."
As Romney's done with Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, he tied Huckabee to Democrats by saying, "This is the kind of stuff you expect of the Democrats, but it's certainly not something you'd expect of a presidential contender on the Republican side."
Romney has said repeatedly that he doesn't want to make predictions, but he's still pretty certain that he's going to finish first or second in the Hawkeye State's caucuses. With the news of three new state polls out this morning that have him either ahead, behind or tied with Huckabee for the top spot, he said the polls show "this one is just too close to call."
"I think it's going to get decided on Thursday in a way that will probably surprise all of us," he said.
Romney was also asked today if had donated to his campaign again this quarter. "I'm sure I made some additional contribution," he said.
(NBC/NJ's ERIN MCPIKE)
Posted at 06:28 PM
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