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Romney, McCain, Get Nasty in Sunshine State

Posted Jan 29, 08 7:25 AM CST in Politics

(Newser) – In the GOP campaign's most acrimonious day, John McCain and Mitt Romney spent yesterday going for each others’ throats, trying to swing today’s critical Florida primary, which still looks like a dead heat in the polls, the Miami Herald reports. Romney accused McCain of championing a “liberal course.” McCain’s parry: “One thing I have to give Romney credit for is he's consistently taken both sides of any major issue.”

Negative ads and push calls flew—one McCain supporter reported getting five calls attacking the senator in 48 hours. Cuban Americans said they were told by callers that Romney supports trading with Castro, although McCain’s campaign denies involvement. A McCain win could crystallize him as a frontrunner, and prove he could triumph in a Republican-only primary. A loss would open up Super Tuesday for Romney.

Sources Miami Herald, New York Times

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Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney talks with supporters as he shakes hands during a campaign stop at the Panama City-Bay County International Airport in Panama City,... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop at the Panama City-Bay County International Airport in Panama City, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, one day before Florida's Republican presidential primary election. (AP... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his wife Cindy McCain look at each other during a campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, one day before Florida's Republican... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greets supporters during a campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, one day before Florida's Republican presidential primary election.... (Associated Press)

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, right, and Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speak as they leave a campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, one day before Florida's Republican... (Associated Press)

A lone airport ground crew member stands atop a truck holding a sign supporting Republican presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the candidate arrives in Ft. Myers, Fla., Monday,... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, accompanied by his wife Ann, points to a supporter during a campaign stop in Ft. Myers, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/LM... (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, posses for a photo with a youth choir at a campaign stop in Ft. Myers, Fla., Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (Associated Press)