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Huckabee, McCain Rip Rival Romney

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By RON FOURNIER, The Associated Press

Published: December 31, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa - Mike Huckabee says John McCain is a hero. McCain says Huckabee is a good man. And they both seem to agree on this: Mitt Romney is neither.

The Republican rivals joined Sunday to criticize Romney: McCain in New Hampshire called him a waffler and Huckabee in Iowa questioned whether he can be trusted with the presidency, a sign of Romney's strength in both states.

Romney's camp accused the hard-charging Huckabee of "testiness and irritability," a reflection of the brass-knuckles phase of the most open presidential race in half a century. Much is at stake: Iowa kicks off the election process Thursday with Democratic and Republican caucuses that could propel two candidates to the nomination.

"Whoever wins Iowa could be the next president of the United States," said Democratic consultant Stephanie Cutter, adding that a compressed election schedule may put a premium on momentum this year "and Iowa can be a rocket booster."

New Hampshire votes just five days after Iowa.

The dynamics aren't quite the same on the Republican side, but GOP consultant Scott Reed said Iowa "is going to make or break three-quarters of all the candidates."

Polls show Democrats Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina tied for the lead in Iowa. Clinton and Obama are closely bunched in New Hampshire, where voters are often influenced by the results in Iowa.

The Democratic winner here will be hard to stop, especially if it's a well-funded Clinton or Obama.

As six candidates offered closing messages on morning talk shows, Obama acknowledged the criticism about lack of experience in Washington might be taking a toll.

"That may have some effect, but ultimately I'm putting my faith in the people of Iowa and the people of America that they want something better," he told NBC's "Meet the Press."

Playing the experience card, Clinton told ABC's "This Week" that as first lady from 1993-2001 she was "intimately involved in so much that went on in the White House, here at home and around the world."

While she was one of the most influential first ladies in history, Clinton had her limits. She did not attend National Security Council meetings, did not receive the presidential daily briefing on terrorism and other threats and did not have a top level security clearance.

She is married to one of the most popular Democratic Party figures, Bill Clinton, and his return to the White House as first spouse would break new ground. "He will not have a formal, official role, but just as presidents rely on wives, husbands, fathers, friends of long years, he will be my close confidante and adviser as I was with him," Sen. Clinton said, adding that attending the NSC meetings "wouldn't be appropriate" for her husband.

Edwards said he couldn't imagine Bill Clinton staying out of the mix. "I think it's a complete fantasy," he said with a laugh on CBS.

A new poll of the Republican race in Iowa suggested that the surprise surge in Iowa of Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, may have stalled. His lead over Romney has evaporated. A victory here for Romney would send the former Massachusetts governor to his neighboring New Hampshire with a head of steam.

That explains why Huckabee, strongest in Iowa, and Arizona Sen. McCain, winner of the 2000 GOP primary in New Hampshire, both criticized Romney.

Huckabee said he may have been hurt by Romney ads and mailings criticizing his record as governor of Arkansas. He accused Romney of running a "very desperate and, frankly, a dishonest campaign."

Romney said there's nothing wrong or unusual about pointing out differences on issues. "In this process, people have a real battle for success," he said, "but I consider these guys friends."

Huckabee's poll numbers have declined as voters learned about his record of raising taxes, ethical lapses and clemencies for convicted murderers in Arkansas.

He hasn't helped himself with foreign policy gaffes, not the least of which was expressing "our sincere concern and apologies" for the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson told Fox News that Huckabee's comments "are not consistent with someone who understands the nature of the world that we live in ... ."

Trailing in Iowa and New Hampshire, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani scolded GOP rivals for name-calling. "My view is we should be here not attacking each other," he said in New Hampshire. "I don't think you get very much out of it."

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