Posted on 07/20/2007 11:30:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Winning the backing of religious conservatives in the United States has sparked a battle between Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.
Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, is credited with firing the opening salvo when he questioned the pro-life credentials of former Thompson, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
Thompson, who is expected to enter the GOP race, first denied and later confirmed that he had lobbied for the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association in the early 1990s.
He would be the only Southerner in the race, if he enters, and polls show he has a strong appeal to religious conservatives.
Many on the right expressed unhappiness with the party's front-runner, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an abortion rights supporter.
"In many ways, the Romney campaign and the emerging Thompson campaign are on a collision course when it comes to campaigning for this constituency of conservative Christians," John C. Green of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, told the Times.
Romney
Buzzzzzz...Wrong! You get some great parting gifts, though.
Hopefully not Hillary!
These two may end up as the eventual GOP Presidential ticket before the race for the ‘08 Presidency is over. I’m still hoping for Duncan Hunter and Fred Thompson to become the eventual GOP Presidential ticket with either man in either position.
I agree - Hopefully NOT Hillary.
That’s like a Mack Truck vs. a rusted Yugo. Pretty-boy Precious Willard the RINO is toast.
We shall see my friend.
I have been predicting since March that Romney will be our nominee. No reason to admit error yet. I wish FRED the best.
As a southerner I can tell you that Thompson would win over Romney in a heartbeat down here.
Romney is just the Breck Girl (Edwards) pasted on backwards.
Saying Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson are on a “collision course” is like saying a chiuaua and a freight train are on a collision course.
Precious Willard is our Breck Girl. Nice hair, liberal, and very destructive. The rodents best friend in Ratsachusetts.
Even with Slick Mitt’s attempts to hurt Thompson, I haven’t heard Fred even mention his name. And why should he, Slick Mitt is way behind in the National Polls and, after many months of campaigning and huge amounts of money spent, he seems to be going nowhere. Fred should continue ignoring him.
I'm just curious but how in the heck can a 60 year old guy look as good as Romney does without using botox on a regular basis?
The seriously unconventional method by which Fred is sitting on the sidelines and stealing support away from McCain and Giuliani suggests some sort of scheme between Romney and Thompson.I really doubt that. Thompson and Romney are going for the same voters. Thompson in no way helps Romney, and by the way Mitt is going after Fred, it appears he knows it, too. The Romney camp is behind 90% of the attacks on Thompson in the media.
If I had money to bet I would put it on a Thompson/Romney ticket.
Romney ... questioned the pro-life credentials of Thompson
"Romney disclosed that he became committed to legalized abortion after a relative died during an illegal abortion. The disclosure came after Romney, who said he is personally opposed to abortion, was asked to reconcile his beliefs with his political support for abortion rights. "It is since that time that my family will not force our beliefs on that matter," He said the abortion made him see "that regardless of one's beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal." Source: Joe Battenfeld in Boston Herald Oct 26, 1994
"Romney was asked to clarify his position on abortion. Romney's stance appeared to have changed between his 1994 campaign against Sen. Kennedy and when he moved to Utah. He recently told a Salt Lake City newspaper that he preferred not to be labeled "pro- choice." "On a personal basis, I don't favor abortion," he said. "However, as governor of the commonwealth, I will protect a woman's right to choose under the laws of the country and the commonwealth. That's the same position I've had for many years." Source: Erik Arvidson, Lowell Sun Mar 20, 2002
* Favored basic Roe v. Wade abortion rights, though would not endorse a specific version of the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify those court-established rights as federal law
* Said he would leave the matter of Medicaid funding for abortion to individual states
* Endorsed legalization of RU-486, the abortion-inducing drug. Source: Boston Globe review of 1994 campaign issues Mar 21, 2002
I am so shocked. You mean politics in America means you have to have some competition?! When did this happen?
He’s slipping too fast to hold on. The irony is that if he held like Fred, he’d be in a better position now, He has blown his momentum. Plus there are more conservative and yet generally palatable choices, especially now.
That’s great, I love it...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.