Free Republic

WOLFEBORO, New Hampshire (CNN) —Mitt Romney said Saturday that Donald Trump's comments on Mexico and undocumented immigrants have hurt the Republican Party, making the 2012 presidential nominee the latest Republican to slam the billionaire over his controversial remarks.

Mitt Romney's campaign kept up the drumbeat of criticism Thursday over President Obama's "you didn't build that" gaffe, releasing a scathing web ad in which a New Hampshire business owner says: "President Obama, you're killing us out here." Video

Powerful conservative Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., thinks former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin deserves a prime speaking position at the Republican convention. "I'd love to see Sarah Palin have a big slot — as far as speaking — because there's no one still in America that excites the base of conservatives and even libertarians as she does,” he told Fox News Thursday. “She can draw a crowd more than any other Republican, and I think has more influence in primaries than any other endorsement right now, so I think she'd be good."

President Obama goes after Mitt Romney’s stance on abortion and Planned Parenthood in a TV ad that starts airing Saturday in Virginia and seven other swing states. “Every woman who believes decisions about our bodies and our health-care should be our own is troubled Mitt Romney supports overturning Roe versus Wade,” the female voiceover begins. “Romney backed a law that outlaws all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest.”

RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday Mitt Romney blew it with the response to all the immigration rulings at the Supreme Court. And the Obama administration reaction to it. And the regime basically telling Arizona, "We don't care. We're gonna have spies tattling on you if you start stopping people," and so forth. Yesterday was a warning, I think. Yesterday was a red flag for the Romney team. Yesterday... And it's the first time in a long time. It's the first time I have thought this in a long time. The Romney team was not ready for primetime on this illegal...

Romney "agrees" with Rubio. Wants "long term" solution. Full statement in Comments.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is skipping next week's presidential primary debate in Iowa. ABC is to televise the event nationally. Huntsman on Friday says he'll instead have a town hall-style meeting on Dec. 10 in New Hampshire, a state that is central to his political strategy. Huntsman has written-off Iowa and has spent neither time nor money there. Huntsman also has accepted an invitation to do a one-on-one debate with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire. The two will meet in Windham for a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with tea party activists on Dec. 12. Gingrich has invited each...