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Romney: McCain Is Another Bob Dole

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February 05, 2008 11:36 AM

ABC News' Bret Hovell and Teddy Davis Report: Republican Mitt Romney responded Tuesday to a pro-McCain letter written by Bob Dole by saying on "Fox and Friends" that the former Senate Majority Leader and World War II veteran is "probably the last person" he would want to write a letter on his behalf.

McCain responded by demanding that Romney apologize to Dole.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

Speaking to reporters on the back of his campaign plane in Newark, N.J., McCain said, "I think Gov. Romney should apologize to Bob Dole for his statement. . . this is no way to end up this campaign by attacking a genuine American war hero."

Since talking about Dole on "Fox and Friends," Romney is softening his words.

On Laura Ingraham's radio show, Romney called Dole "an American hero" and a "terrific guy," while acknowledging that he would like to have every endorsement. But the former Massachusetts governor is sticking to his underlying argument that McCain, like Dole, is a flawed candidate despite being "the anointed choice" and the "next in line."

Romney contends that he would make a better nominee than his older rival because as a former governor and business consultant he can position the G.O.P. as the party seeking change in Washington.

For months, one of the whispers you would hear from Romney advisers is that McCain "is turning into Bob Dole."

And it has nothing to do with being "annointed" or being the person who "waited the longest." They are calling him old, trying to make the Republican nomination fight a generational-type battle.

On Monday, Dole wrote conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh in an effort to quell conservative complaints about McCain being the Republican nominee.

"Rush," Dole wrote, "I was the Republican Leader from January 1985 until I left the Senate voluntarily in June 1996. I worked closely with Senator McCain when he came to the Senate in 1987 until I departed. I cannot recall a single instance when he did not support the Party on critical votes."

February 5, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Palin, Sarah, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (48)

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I can't vote for Romney because he is not a Christian. As a Republican, I'm going for McCain because he is a true believer. On the Democratic side, from what I've read (a lot!!!) Obama is the strongest Christian. He was exposed to a lot of other religious but chose Christianity. I think that makes him more qualified to address issues of concern to all religions. I'm sticking with McCain even though he's older than I'd like.

Posted by: doin | Feb 5, 2008 12:36:34 PM

McCain IS Bob Dole... and Mitt IS the male Hilliary! Vote for either of these guys and you are a Democrat. NOT a Republican. You may get the nomination... But don't you dare claim to speak for the Republican party. None of these bums represent Republican values. Never have and NEVER will! Looks like a good year to be a real Democrat, and not another wishy-washy RINO... Just like '96 the party is giving it to a Clinton. If you can't see this your not looking or you just don't care. But since when did Democrats care about Republican principle anyway. Too bad the party is owned by these turkeys. Pathetic.

Posted by: cba | Feb 5, 2008 12:38:18 PM

McCain, the guy that ran around his wife and divorced her and married a trophy wife is not the Christian candidate. People - get over Romney's religion. Of course he is not Christian in the traditional sense. But he is a family man with deep moral convictions. He is conservative, a Washington outsider and a million times more intelligent and qualified than McCain. Its time we have a smart president after 8 years with the current one. McCain is old and will not motivate anyone to vote for him. Being a war hero and a politician does not make you qualified to be president. Just look at the current one and vote for a smart president that can lead the world and gain the respect of the world community.

Posted by: Jeremy | Feb 5, 2008 12:45:02 PM

McCain has ZERO sack when it comes to standing up for CONSERVATIVE VALUES AND AMERICA. Okay, the guy was a POW, I respect the fact that got captured and endured, but this is not an election for the most likely to get captured, this is for the hardest job in the world! This is for the speaker and figurehead of our country! This is about dealing with our economy, not Mexico's. This is about using SCIENCE to deal with climate change, not legislation. This is about making immigrants EARN THE RIGHT TO STAY, NOT AMNESTY AS MCCAIN WOULD HAVE GIVEN!! ROMNEY IS NOT MY FIRST CHOICE, THOMPSON WAS, BUT HE IS THOUSANDS TIMES BETTER THAN MCCAIN THE DEMOCRAT, THE HUCKSTER, OR CRAZY RON'S TV SALES!!

Posted by: Tommy | Feb 5, 2008 12:58:08 PM

I'm sick of Mitt Romney's ageist tactics. This Dole remark is no accident, considering all the petty stuff Mitt's campaign has been putting out about McCain's age. For the record, Ronald Reagan was 78 when he left office, and McCain is only 71 (and could probably knock down Milquetoast Mitt in a friendly three-rounder!).

Posted by: Frank | Feb 5, 2008 1:44:44 PM

If you are conservative, why would you vote for a Democrat in disguise (AKA McCain). He likes to call himself conservative, but look no further than his voting record to see where he really stands. Vote Mitt Romney for President 2008. He is right for the Republican Party and Right for The United States of America.

Posted by: Erin | Feb 5, 2008 2:07:48 PM

And Reagan, it was learned shortly thereafter, had Alzheimers--possibly while he was still in office!

Age does matter.

Posted by: ComeOn | Feb 5, 2008 2:08:59 PM

Mitt is the strongest Republican candidate. He is intelligent, a family man with good morals, a Christian (how many time does he have to say he belives in Christ?), inventive, and will bring real change. We need someone with bussiness sense that can think "outside the box" for real solutions to real problems.

Posted by: Sonia | Feb 5, 2008 2:13:32 PM

McCain has no experience for standing up for conseratives in the United States Senate. Just because he was a POW, so were thousands of ours, but this is not an election for the most likely to get captured and lose your plane! This is for the leader our country! This is about dealing with our economy, not Mexico's. Mitt Romney is the only candidate that can represent us without being narly and getting upset over nothing with other governments like McCain does now. What is the state of McCain health now? I know he has gone through alot of facial cancer removal. What else is he hiding??

Posted by: C. J. | Feb 5, 2008 2:22:56 PM

It is unbelievable that people continue to refuse to vote for Romney because he is not "Christian." A person would be considered a bigot if they said they wouldn't vote for someone because they were black, but why is refusing to vote for someone because of their religion considered okay. Look at Mitt Romney for where he stands on issues. Then if you are still concerned about his moral character look at his life and what kind of person he is. He has a good marriage (has never been divorced), a good family, and moral values. What is lacking? My answer is, not much.

Posted by: Erin | Feb 5, 2008 2:23:20 PM

If all of the Senators (Clinton, Obama, McCain) really know how to bring "change" to America, why haven't they already introduced bills to fix it. They haven't changed anything yet, so why would putting them in office "change" anything. Vote Mitt Romney! He understands revenue and expenses. You can't spend more then you have, or your business doesn't survive. The US Government needs an outsider to explain this phenomenon.

Posted by: Val | Feb 5, 2008 2:32:20 PM

Mitt Romney should not be comander and chief, by smearing McCain and putting down Bob Dole He shows a lack of respect for veterans and looks desperate.

Posted by: ray | Feb 5, 2008 2:37:56 PM

There isn't much difference between Obama, Clinton and McCain. McCain is no "Reagan." Reagan was conservative, had a strong vision, was charismatic and was the most eloquent speaker of his time. McCain has none of those characteristics. Its time for John McCain to apologize to his first wife and go fix the border problem in Arizona.

Posted by: Ron | Feb 5, 2008 2:40:05 PM

I respect Bob Dole though I did not vote for him. I respect McCain though I will not likely vote for him. I do not respect Romney based on the way he lies on the stump.I will support Obama.

Posted by: T.F. | Feb 5, 2008 3:07:11 PM

To free all minds, your barking up the wrong trees. There is a candidate that is not playing "diry pool", the worst FACTS they can come up w/is THEIR OPINIONS of religion, again not facts. A plan to restore; change, only true conservative, and just a genuine person taht recognizes ALL people as people. A candidate that can UNITE all. None of the "bad" campaigning bologna going on with him as with EVERY other candidate. IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD PLEASE DO BEFORE THE PEOPLE LOSE OUT. I SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF PERSON and thank you Huckabee for giving hope this country can work the initail way it was intended to.

Posted by: callenfallen | Feb 5, 2008 3:31:50 PM

What does Christianity have to do with being President? I thought we were voting for the President of the USA here not the Pope or the next Billy Graham. Romney is an excellent candidate and has outstanding values. He is right on with the issues. Huckabee is clueless to what it really takes to get this country on the right path and his ideas have no real stamina. As a side note...who are we to say Mormons are Christian or not? They say they are Christian and they are the ones that know what they beleive best. Not that has ANYTHING to do with the politics.

Posted by: JH | Feb 5, 2008 3:56:31 PM

I am a Mormon. I believe and except Jesus Christ as my personal savior. Just like 14 million other members of my faith. Please stop posting that we are not Christians because we are. We talk of Christ, We rejoice in Christ, We teach of Christ so that our children my know where to look for a remission of their sins.

Posted by: RMeng | Feb 5, 2008 4:40:15 PM

looks like another hack job. come on, bret and teddy... finish the story. tell us about how dole has confirmed that he never intended for this letter to be exploited as mccain's camp has done (making it sound like an endorsement) and that he has said that romney doesn't owe him any apology. he has also reiterated the fact that he and mccain come down very differently on a wide variety of issues. mccain's disingenousness is sickening. your facilitating it is inexcusable.

Posted by: vtkajo | Feb 5, 2008 4:53:22 PM

Angela: Please go back and look at history, Most state constitutions state that a citizen is obligated to vote based on the man's convictions and private belief in god and his son Jesus. read some of the publications written by some of the founding fathers and you'll see the same referrences. You'll also find the some of the founding fathers help write the same state constitutions I'm reffereing to. it is considered our duty to vote for upright religious men. It's also the duty of the Electoral College to install the man that is upright and moral, in the event that the general population makes a mistake and elects an immoral man.

People need to read their the history books. the very first session ov congress was an 8 hour prayer session. All these men that wrote our Declaration and Constitution were God fearing men and recgonized that if we were to become a Godless antion this country would soon colapse. Maybe if we followed our civic duty as layed out by our forefathers this country would be what it was intended to be, the most powerful, most wealthy nation on Earth.

Posted by: Historian | Feb 5, 2008 4:59:41 PM

Yeah and Mitt Romney is the New George
Romney, you know the Guy who cost
Gerald Ford the 1976 election, by being a horrible VP candidate.
That mistake gave us Jimmy Carter, the Worst President in U.S. History!
The Mistake of Nominating Mitt Romney will give us the enduring nightmare of a Hillary Clinton Presidency!
She will make Vladamir Putin look like a
supporter of Democracy!

Posted by: reaganfan | Feb 5, 2008 5:06:01 PM

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