Pure Horserace: Romney Feels The Heat

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CBS

(CBS) With the Iowa Straw Poll less than a week away, Republicans hoping for a win in Ames are undoubtedly feeling the pressure. But none more so than perhaps Mitt Romney, who has been the front-runner in Iowa polls for months but is now facing increased scrutiny for his views, especially on abortion, and stepped-up attacks from second-tier Republicans hoping to score an upset.

The target on Romney's back was clear from the outset of Sunday’s debate in Iowa. The very first question led to a tense exchange between Romney and Sen. Sam Brownback, whose campaign has placed automated phone calls to prospective straw poll voters questioning Romney's anti-abortion credentials. That accusation — even Romney says he was "effectively pro-choice" until 2002 — has been made since Romney got into the race. But in Iowa it has now become a drumbeat.


Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, one of the leading Republican presidential candidates, has faced tough questions on his views on abortion as the Iowa Straw Poll nears. (AP / file)

Not surprisingly, Romney has been preparing for this assault. He had one of Sunday's biggest applause lines when said he was getting tired of "holier-than-thou" opponents criticizing his recent rightward shift on abortion. But there are some signs the pressure is starting to get to him. The former Massachusetts governor became visibly impatient with Iowa talk radio host Jan Mickelson when Mickelson said Romney's previous pro-choice position made him subject to excommunication from the Mormon faith.

The conversation between the two was at its most intense during a commercial break — while radio listeners didn't hear it, Romney's campaign has posted video of the entire exchange on YouTube. It includes Romney discussing, perhaps more frankly than we've seen yet, the connection between his religion and his political beliefs. "My religion is for me and how I live my life," he said. "My church, the leaders of my church, who I know well — and who I have been, a leader of my church — says, with the same vehemence that we have our own beliefs, we also vehemently believe other people should be able to make our own choices. So don't confuse what I do as a member of my faith with what I think should be done by government."


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/06/politics/purehorserace/main3137590.shtml

[Sequoia]

1. Next year's headlines: John and Mitt race to the finish.

With their square-jawed good looks and suave hair-do's the winner's of both parties aim to charm the votes off people's back.

Who will win?

Quick to answer the question is The Decider himself, "I'm the decider, see. And I decide if they get voted in or if I'm gonna declare Marshall Law. Like I said before, it'd be a heck of a lot easier if this were a dictarship as long as I get to be in charge."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Whoa boy, thank God it was only a nightmare.

Or is it......only The Shadow knows.