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Mitt Romney Watch: Tax FLIP for MITT
Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, shakes hands with customers during a campaign stop at MaryAnn’s Diner in Derry, N.H., Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007.
There HE goes again – another FLIP FOR MITT.
Romney ad: Pledge not to raise taxes
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney planned to continue hammering his rivals on Friday, starting a new radio ad in New Hampshire that touts his promise not to raise taxes.
Romney, who has seen his polling lead in New Hampshire evaporate in recent months, reminds voters in his new 60-second ad that he has signed a pledge not to raise taxes.
The ad:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=_rjuw4M78UU[/youtube]
“For years, conservative candidates for president signed their name on the dotted line, pledging to oppose tax increases,” Romney says in the ad that starts on Friday. “I’m proud to be the only major candidate for president to sign the tax pledge. The others have not.”
The ads come after back-to-back days of trading jabs between Romney and fellow GOP candidate Rudy Giuliani. The pair spent Thursday in a sharp exchange over their tax and spending records.
In Romney’s new ad, he notes he signed the no-taxes pledge because voters deserve to know where he stands — and, by contrast, where former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain do not.
“We’ve got to get taxes down. And grow our economy,” Romney says. “I believe it’s not fair that you have to pay taxes when you earn your money, when you save your money and when you die.
“I stood firm to roll back taxes as governor. I’ll roll back taxes as president,” says Romney, who was unable to cut taxes while leading Massachuset
But, is Mitt Romney telling the truth? He opposed taking tax pledges in 2002.
Romney’s anti-tax stance doesn’t exactly mesh with his 2002 record. In that year, his spokesman called such pledges “government by gimmickry.” His critics also note taxes and fees in Massachusetts went up about $700 million.
Let’s look deeper into Mitt’s Massachusetts tax history:
- In 2002, Romney Refused To Sign “No-New-Taxes†Pledge, Breaking With His GOP Predecessors And Earning Praise From Boston Globe For Keeping Tax Hike Option Open. (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,†The Boston Globe, 1/5/07; Editorial, “Romney’s Realism,†The Boston Globe, 3/29/02)
- “Romney’s Gubernatorial Campaign Spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, Dismissed Such Pledges At The Time As ‘Government By Gimmickry.’†(Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,†The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)
- Former Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci: Mitt Romney had no broad based tax cuts. He had a sales tax holiday which is about the best you can say in a capital gains reduction. And the tax burden actually went up 10% during his time because he closed a lot of loopholes. And talk about hypocrisy, one of the loopholes he closed was that he increased income taxes on people who did not reside in Massachusetts but were employed or had a business in Massachusetts. He actually increased taxes on those people…..this really is about who has the determination to get things done because you know Mitt Romney said he was going to cut the income tax from 5.3% to 5%. That was one of his platforms as he came in and when he left as Governor of Massachusetts, the income tax was still 5.3%. I was able to cut it from 5.95 down to 5.3 because I was determined to get there just like Rudy Giuliani was determined to get there in New York City even though he had an overwhelmingly Democratic City Council. So I think the record is clear. Rudy Giuliani cut taxes, broad base tax relief for the families in New York, for the businesses in New York. Mitt Romney did not cut taxes in Massachusetts.
So, did Mitt FLIP on the No New Tax Pledge?
And, now, how can he hypocritically question Rudy and John McCain on not taking a pledge that he has previously dismissed and ridiculed as a GIMMICK?
Another oddity, like the rest:
Scientology book one of his favorites
The Robert Lichfield FLAP
None of Mitt’s five adult sons had served in the militaryChalk up another one for FLIPPER Mitt………
Previous:Mitt Romney Watch: Mitt Burns Through Campaign Cash
Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses
Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Catches Mitt Romney in New Hampshire
Mitt Romney Watch: Five Brothers
Mitt Romney Watch: He Gets It?
Mitt Romney Watch: Change Begins with Us
Fred Thompson Watch: Fred Strikes Romney on “Half-Baked Cover-Up
Mitt Romney Watch: The Phoneyfred.org Flap Part III – Who is Wesley Donehue?
Mitt Romney Watch: The Phoneyfred.org Flap Part II
Mitt Romney Watch: Should Romney Fire Warren Tompkins?
Mitt Romney Watch: NO Apology from Romney on Anti-Thompson Web Site
Mitt Romney Watch: The Phoneyfred.org Flap
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
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Mitt Romney Attacks Rudy Giuliani Over His Economic Record and Line Item Veto
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3SaDQGq2wI[/youtube]
Romney hits Giuliani on line-item veto
Mitt Romney criticized GOP presidential rival Rudy Giuliani Thursday for fighting as New York’s mayor to eliminate a presidential line-item veto and to maintain a commuter tax on visitors to New York City.
Romney said those actions highlighted his own differences with Giuliani over government spending and taxation, pivotal questions in New Hampshire, a state that has no income tax and prides itself on its bare-bones government.
Romney is the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts. Giuliani has begun to challenge Romney’s lead in early voting New Hampshire, and the Romney campaign has been portraying the Republican race as a two-man contest with the former New York mayor.
“I don’t think there’s any tool more important than the line-item veto,” Romney told a man at St. Anselm College who asked him to contrast himself with Giuliani on tax and spending policy. “I line-item-veteoed hundreds of items as governor of Massachusetts, hundreds, and that vehicle is the most powerful tool a president of the United States could have to rein in unnecessary pork barrel, earmarked spending.”
One of Romney’s predecessors, former Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci, later told reporters in a conference call arranged by the Giuliani camp that the criticism “appears to be some desperation as the polls close,” as well as “pretty weak arguments from a governor who in four years really had no tax cuts for the people of Massachusetts.”
Cellucci said Giuliani supports a line-item veto as one of his 12 commitments.
The is probably NOT the best strategy since Mitt has it WRONG.
Let’s say you are Mitt Romney. Your lead in New Hampshire seems to be shrinking. You decide to attack your closest rival in the state, Rudy Giuliani. You choose to go after . . . Giuliani’s economic record.
Um, doesn’t that seem to be a tactical mistake? Doesn’t Giuliani have much larger liabilities in a Republican primary, such as, among other things, his pro-choice views, his past support for gun control, and his continued support for some sort of reprieve for illegal immigrants who have jobs, identify themselves to the government, and have no criminal records? Why not go after any of those?
Here is the audio of former Massachusetts Governor Paul Celluci calling out Romney.
And then there is this PUSHBACK from the Giuliani campaign:
“There is one Republican candidate in the race with a track record of cutting taxes 23 times and that is Rudy Giuliani. No amount of political spin can help Mitt Romney re-write the history books. Mitt Romney failed to pass a single tax cut as Governor and the Cato Institute gave him a ‘C’ for his handling of the economy as Governor. Mitt Romney can repackage himself as many times as he wants but his failing fiscal record speaks for itself.â€
– Katie Levinson, Communications Director
OUCH………..
Flap supposes it is desperation time for Romney. He has lost his poll lead in New Hampshire and his campaign except for his own checks is BROKE.
Not a good day for the Mittster……..
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani on the Rush Limbaugh Phony Soldier Attack
Rudy Giuliani Leads in 3Q GOP Presidential Fundraising
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Is a Clinton Presidency Inevitable Like 1992?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Assails Hillary Clinton for Southern Accent Pander
Giuliani Poll Watch: New Hampshire – Rudy Gains as Romney Declines
Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Rudy Giuliani on the Rush Limbaugh Phony Soldier Attack
Rudy Giuliani today had some comments on the Sean Hannity radio show about Rush Limbaugh and the bogus, phony attack by Dingy Harry Reid and other Senate Democrats:SEAN HANNITY: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is with [us]. Mr. Mayor, where are you?
MAYOR GIULIANI: Hi Sean. We are DuPage County right outside of Chicago at DuPage College; we just did a town hall meeting here. It was great.
HANNITY: And you had a good time I’m sure.
MAYOR GIULIANI: We did. We had a terrific time we had a lot of good questions, interestingly a lot of it about HillaryCare and a lot of it about the Hillary baby bond.
HANNITY: The 5,000 dollar baby bond, I’m sure Bill Gates son and daughter really needs that money.
MAYOR GIULIANI: 22 billion, remember she just cost us another 22 billion.
HANNITY: Listen I want to get into a lot of issues here with you. First of all have you—I know that over the years that you have been a big fan of radio. For all the years you were mayor on our flagship in New York, WABC you did your own radio show for the entire time that you were mayor and I know that you’ve been a fan or Rush’s and I know that you’ve know for 20 years he’s…
MAYOR GIULIANI: And Rush is a friend, so I’ll tell you that right off the top, he’s a personal friend. I’ve know Rush for a long time and I think it’s totally absurd that Harry Reid goes on the floor of the senate to criticize Rush Limbaugh. He has nothing better to do?
HANNITY: Yeah
MAYOR GIULIANI: Than to go on the floor of the senate to attack a—I mean it gives you a sense of how powerful Rush has become. The majority leader of the senate is taking his time, tax payer time, to criticize a radio commentator, which is terrific for Rush but I mean it gives you kind of a sense of their priorities.
HANNITY: Not only that, he’s got a twenty year track record of being one of the most passionate, ardent supports of the military.
MAYOR GIULIANI: Yeah I know and this is Harry Reid who declared we lost in Iraq, what was it three months ago?
HANNITY: More than that, yeah.
MAYOR GIULIANI: Three or four months ago we lost, I mean I guess he hasn’t checked the recent facts in Iraq but gosh we don’t want to get facts in the way of his political propaganda.
**********
Political propaganda is correct. As the furor dies down about this FLAP one has to wonder about how afraid the Democrats are of Rush and Talk Radio.
Will Dingy Harry try again?
Stay tuned……..
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani Leads in 3Q GOP Presidential Fundraising
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Is a Clinton Presidency Inevitable Like 1992?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Assails Hillary Clinton for Southern Accent Pander
Giuliani Poll Watch: New Hampshire – Rudy Gains as Romney Declines
Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Senator Larry Craig Watch: No Plea Revocation;Update – Craig Refuses to Resign
*****UPDATE*****
Craig vows to serve out his term in office
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig defiantly vowed to serve out his term in office on Thursday despite losing a court attempt to rescind his guilty plea in a men’s room sex sting.
“I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively,” Craig said in a written statement certain to disappoint fellow Republicans who have long urged him to step down.
Bring on the ethics investigations……
U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) is pictured in these police booking photos taken on June 11, 2007. A Minnesota judge on October 4, 2007, refused to let Craig take back the guilty plea he made after a sex sting arrest, making it likely the Idaho Republican will resign his Senate seat as planned.
Judge denies Craig motion to revoke plea
A Minnesota judge on Thursday rejected Sen. Larry Craig’s bid to withdraw his guilty plea in an airport sex sting, a major setback in Craig’s effort to clear his name and hang onto his Senate seat.
“Because the defendant’s plea was accurate, voluntary and intelligent, and because the conviction is supported by the evidence … the Defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea is denied,” Hennepin County Judge Charles Porter wrote.
Craig can appeal Porter’s ruling, but it wasn’t immediately clear if he would.
Senator Craig’s arguments to overturn his plea were specious in any case. Craig had over two months to consider his plea and/or to fight for his innocence in the case.
Now, Craig should resign as he promised and retire from public life.
Republican Senator Larry Craig of Idaho is trailed by reporters as he makes his way to the Senate Chamber in the Capitol in Washington September 18, 2007. Craig, ensnared in a men’s room sex sting, was back on Capitol Hill for the first time since his June arrest was revealed last month.
Previous:
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Craig Will NOT Resign September 30
Senator Larry Craig Watch: I’m NOT GuiltySenator Larry Craig Watch: Craig LIKELY to Leave
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Reconsideration Or Sham Resignation?
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Reconsideration?
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Craig Resigns
Senator Larry Craig Watch: News Conference Saturday – Will Craig Resign?
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Resignation Today?
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Senator Ensign Sends a Message
Senator Larry Craig Watch: McCain and Coleman Call for Craig Resignation
Michael Ramirez on Senator Larry Craig
Senator Larry Craig Watch: I am NOT Gay
Senator Larry Craig Watch: When Does He Go?
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Idaho Senate Replacements
Senator Larry Craig Watch: Should Craig Stay or Go?
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Rudy Giuliani Leads in 3Q GOP Presidential Fundraising
Republican presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani smiles as he stands over 5-month-old Birch Carter while greeting supporters and customers at a coffee shop Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, in Clayton, Mo.
Giuliani Raises $11 Million, Leads GOP
Republican Rudy Giuliani raised more than $11 million for his presidential campaign over the past three months and ended the quarter with more than $16 million on hand, his campaign reported Thursday.
More than $10.5 million of his fundraising was for the primary contests. The balance was designated for the general election. The figures make Giuliani the leading Republican fundraiser for the second consecutive quarter.
Good news for Rudy.
Bad news for the rest of the GOP field.
Of course, money isn’t everything but……..
- John McCain’s campaign is broke or in debt, having raised $6 million for the quarter
- Mike Huckabee raised only a $ 1 million
- Mitt Romney’s campaign would be broke unless he wrote himself a check, having raised and burned through $9 million or so.
- Fred Thompson came in with $
8Â 9 million with about $7 million on hand
Rudy has a long way to go in fundraising to match the Democrats though. With the field obviously narrowing will more GOP donors step up for Rudy?
Stay tuned……
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Is a Clinton Presidency Inevitable Like 1992?
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Assails Hillary Clinton for Southern Accent Pander
Giuliani Poll Watch: New Hampshire – Rudy Gains as Romney Declines
Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction Part Two
Rudy – Send Judith to Voice Mail
Anti-Giuliani Group Punks Rudy But Gets IT Wrong
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction
Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Continues to Contend in South Carolina
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Wins GOP Women Straw Poll
Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Contends in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right?
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Raises 11 Million With 16 Million Cash on Hand
Just off the wire:
Giuliani raises $11 million, Romney $10 million, McCain reports $6 million for 3rd quarter
Â
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Republican Rudy Giuliani raised more than $11 million for his presidential campaign over the past three months and ended the quarter with more than $16 million on hand, his campaign reported Thursday.
Â
More than $10.5 million of his fundraising was for the primary contests. The balance was designated for the general election. The figures make Giuliani the leading Republican fundraiser for the second consecutive quarter.
More in a minute……..
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Mitt Romney Watch: Mitt Burns Through Campaign Cash
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney answers a question from the audience at the Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire October 4, 2007.
If Mitt Romney wishes to continue his campaign for the GOP Presidential nomination it looks like he will have to write his own check.
With the latest campaign finance reports, Romney’s campaign would be in debt unless he loaned his campaign the money from his own personal fortune.
The question is: With Mitt doing poorly in the polls, how much longer will he be willing to write the big check?
Stay tuned……
Previous:
Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses
Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Catches Mitt Romney in New Hampshire
Mitt Romney Watch: Five Brothers
Mitt Romney Watch: He Gets It?
Mitt Romney Watch: Change Begins with Us
Fred Thompson Watch: Fred Strikes Romney on “Half-Baked Cover-Up
Mitt Romney Watch: The Phoneyfred.org Flap Part III – Who is Wesley Donehue?
Mitt Romney Watch: The Phoneyfred.org Flap Part II
Mitt Romney Watch: Should Romney Fire Warren Tompkins?
Mitt Romney Watch: NO Apology from Romney on Anti-Thompson Web Site
Mitt Romney Watch: The Phoneyfred.org Flap
Technorati Tags: Mitt Romney
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Fred Thompson Watch: Not Going to Dance With James Dobson
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwVb6cydEbg[/youtube]
Fred Thompson Has No Desire to Talk With James Dobson
So, now Fred is fighting with the Evangelical Right as has John McCain and Rudy previously.
Is James Dobson being cast out from GOP Presidential politics? Is Dobson IRRELEVANT?
PossibleFlap KNOWS all Evangelical Christian voters will NOT abandon the GOP to either vote for Hillary, vote for a third party candidate or stay home.
But, on the other hand, enough of these voters may very well abandon the GOP for a third pary.Â
And, then what?
THIS dust-up certainly does not help Fred Thompson.
Who is left?
Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson concludes a short news conference in a hanger at Love Field in Dallas, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007. Thompson says he doesn’t need the support of influential evangelical Christian leader James Dobson to win over conservative voters. Dobson accuses the former Tennessee senator as being a weak conservative with ‘no passion’ in a private e-mail obtained this week by The Associated Press.
Previous:George Will Asks Why the Thompson Candidacy is Necessary
Fred Thompson Watch: NO to Ice Cream And NO to Huckabee Debate
Mitt Romney Watch: The Phoneyfred.org Flap
Fred Thompson Wants “Due Process†for Osama Bin Laden
Fred Thompson Watch: NO to Ice Cream But YES to Huckabee Debate?
Fred Thompson’s Past Support for Campaign Finance Reform Scrutinized
Fred Thompson Watch: Jim Mills Quote of the Day
Fred Thompson Watch: ANOTHER Campaign Aide OUTFred Thompson Scores “Direct Hit on Romneyâ€
Fred Thompson Watch: Thompson to Announce September 6 – Ducks GOP Debate
Technorati Tags: Fred Thompson
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Electoral Reform California Initiative, Hillary Clinton, President 2008, Presidential Electors Initiative, Rudy Giuliani
Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: The Surrogate Campaign
Graphic Courtesy of California Majority Report
The New York Times frames the fight over California electoral votes in their piece: In Ballot Fight, California Gets a Taste of ’08 as a SURROGATE campaign by Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani.Ballot measures in California have long been proxies for local politicians’ hopes and dreams — just ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who rode a recall petition to the Statehouse.
But now a statewide initiative has become the unusual battleground for two previously entangled New York politicians whose eyes are fixed firmly on the White House.
Rudy versus Hillary, the West Coast edition — it’s on.
Supporters of Rudolph W. Giuliani and of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton are embroiled in their first major affray of the political season over a ballot initiative on presidential electoral votes some 2,500 miles from the pancake houses of Skaneateles, N.Y., and the fire stations of Queens.
The fight could be a telling prelude to the 2008 presidential contest, with the political instincts and strategies long employed by Mr. Giuliani, a Republican, and Mrs. Clinton, a Democrat, cast in sharp relief. The battle has reflected their political set-to in 2000, when they squared off briefly over a United States Senate seat in New York, and could foreshadow how the game will be played should they become their parties’ nominees.
The proposed measure here would ask voters to apportion electoral votes by Congressional district, potentially giving the Republican nominee in 2008 some 20 of the state’s 55 votes — the rough equivalent of winning Illinois or Pennsylvania — in this otherwise reliably Democratic state.
Such a change could amount to a seismic shift in the nation’s electoral dynamics, potentially springboarding a Republican into the White House, and the possibility has animated hopeful Republicans and fearful Democrats.
A novel approach which the Democrats in the their legislature are using in North Carolina but not a long term gain for the GOP as Tom McClintock, a California State Senator and conservative standard bearer has written. And, then there is the pesky issue of constitutionality anyway.
Obviously, Governor Schwarzenegger and Rudy have pulled the plug.
The Democrats, including Hillary’s chief surrogate Chris Lehane will try to make more of this issue and make more campaign consultant cash. But, most Californians don’t know about the initiative and it is doubtful if they care.
The REAL SURROGATE campaign will come after February 5th.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Failure to Launch
Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Is it OVER?
Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Bush and Rove Did It
Presidential Electors Initiative Watch: Initiative in Circulation for June 2008
Electoral Reform California Initiative Watch: Schwarzenegger Cool To InitiativeElectoral Reform California Initiative Watch: Field Poll – 47% Favor vs. 35% Oppose
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes Part II
Electoral Reform California Initiative Could Split California Presidential Votes
North Carolina Ready to Change Electoral College Presidential Selection Rules for 2008
Technorati Tags: Electoral Reform California, Electoral College, GOP, Democrats
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Rudy Giuliani Watch: Is a Clinton Presidency Inevitable Like 1992?
With recent polls, Senate retirements, economic problems on the horizon and GOP fundraising problems the question is: Will a Clinton Presidency be inevitable like Bill Clinton’s election in 1992?
Possible. Unless Rudy Giuliani can clearly distinguish his policies from that of the Democrats and Hillary Clinton.
The Evangelical right leaders have already abandoned Rudy but polls show their base of supporters/voters have not. there is some hope here.
But, like in 1992 (with Bush I), Rudy will face a hostile right and a media spun “MODERATE” Clinton.
With all of these obstacles and an unpopular GOP President and Iraq War, Flap asks is the task insurmountable?
Previous:
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Assails Hillary Clinton for Southern Accent Pander
Giuliani Poll Watch: New Hampshire – Rudy Gains as Romney Declines
Mitt Romney Lead in New Hampshire Collapses
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction Part Two
Rudy – Send Judith to Voice Mail
Anti-Giuliani Group Punks Rudy But Gets IT Wrong
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right? The Reaction
Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Continues to Contend in South Carolina
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Rudy Wins GOP Women Straw Poll
Giuliani Poll Watch: Rudy Contends in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina
Rudy Giuliani Watch: Mr. September Blackballed By Christian Right?
Technorati Tags: Rudy Giuliani