Primaries Months Away, but Presidential Candidates Ready Attack Ads

Sept. 16, 2007 — -- Even though the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees are months from being selected, some of the front runners in the presidential race are already taking aim at one another.

Rudy Giuliani, the current Republican front runner according to a recent ABC News/Washington Post Poll, threw up the first volley with an Internet ad attacking Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton.

Giuliani accused the former first lady of flip-flopping in her stance on the Iraq war.

"Just when our troops need all our support to finish the job, Hillary Clinton, is turning her back on them," the ad said.

But the Clinton camp was quick to return fire.

"Instead of distorting Sen. Clinton's record in the campaign's first attack ad, the mayor should tell voters why he thinks sticking with the Bush Iraq strategy makes sense," Clinton's campaign said in a response.

Some political watchers believe the Giuliani camp's Internet ad was an attempt to appeal to the GOP's conservative base.

"Rudy Giuliani is saying to voters, 'I'm a national security conservative. That's what we need to keep the party strong,'" said ABC News political analyst Mark Halperin.

And while the ads may garner Giuliani some support among some Republican voters, the attack also may have similar effect on Clinton. When Republicans take aim at the New York senator, some analysts believe it energizes her supporters and helps solidify her Democratic front runner status.

But the recent exchange between Clinton and Giuliani isn't the only example of ramped up criticism between candidates.

With less than four months before primary voters head to the polls, other presidential hopefuls are sharpening their knives, too.

For example, an anonymous Web site mocking Fred Thompson called PhoneyFred.org was traced back to a South Carolina firm working for Republican candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

The Thompson campaign called it smut, while the Romney camp said it had no knowledge of the site.