Romney Backers Switch Support to McCain
Michigan Romney Backers Switch Support to McCain
Tuesday , February 13, 2007
By Aaron Bruns
Washington —
While the forecast is for snow when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney officially launches his campaign in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday morning, several state representatives plan to rain on Romney's parade.
The group of state lawmakers, which had pledged to support Romney in 2008, will announce at a press conference in Lansing that they've switched their support from Romney to Republican rival, Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Three-term state Rep. Judy Emmons said she backed Romney on the word of former House Speaker Craig DeRochem, who will be introducing Romney at the Dearborn event. But Emmons told FOX News on Monday that after researching the candidates on her own, she came to view McCain as the better choice.
Emmons said part of the decision came down to Romney's position on abortion, and a conservative conversion that has plagued Romney since he entered national politics.
McCain's "pro-life record is compelling," Emmons said. "For 20 years, he's been pro-life every step." Romney, on the other hand, has a "consistency issue."
Emmons said she also has respect for McCain's "willingness to be at the forefront of protecting our country from terrorism" and praised him as "fiscally responsible."
Romney is largely acknowledged as the third member of the Republican top tier in the 2008 race, having demonstrated an ability to rally Republicans to his cause — endorsements range from members of ex-Florida Gov Jeb Bush's inner circle to Capitol Hill lawmakers, including former House Speaker Dennis Hastert — and to raise money. He took in more than $6 million on the day he announced his exploratory committee.
But the "consistency issue" is sure to dog Romney throughout his battle for the GOP nomination for president. Romney favored safe, legal abortions until he became governor of Massachusetts, but says he was dissuaded from his abortion-on-demand position by a Harvard stem cell scientist. Afterward, Romney announced his opposition to embryonic stem cell research and later that year vetoed a bill making available Plan B or "morning after" contraception.
In 1994, Romney also has said he'd be a stronger proponent of gay rights than liberal senator Ted Kennedy, who he ran against that year.
Romney and McCain have been going toe-to-toe behind the scenes for months. McCain has announced a slew of endorsement in Romney's home state of Michigan, and the campaign held its first voter rally in Massachusetts. Romney countered by announcing supporters from McCain's home state of Arizona the same day.
With fellow top-tier candidate Rudy Giuliani lagging behind in campaign organization, McCain and Romney have also been battling it out for supporters on Capitol Hill and in the key primary states of Florida and South Carolina.
As a Mormon, Romney could face resistance from Christian evangelicals, who comprise a sizable and powerful chunk of the Republican Party. He also misstepped among the Jewish community by choosing the announcement for his White House campaign to take place at the Henry Ford museum. Ford, a well-known anti-Semite, was bestowed the Grand Service Cross of the Supreme Order of the German Eagle by Adolph Hitler.
Romney's father, George, is a former automobile executive and three term governor of the state. Romney's campaign said the announcement would go on as scheduled.
foxnews.com
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