Huckabee Stands Down on Rumble with Romney

Dec. 31, 2007— -- In one of the odder moments in this race for the White House, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee called a press conference to release a negative TV ad about his rival Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who's been attacking Huckabee on air and on the stump for weeks. But in a move that stunned even members of his own staff, Huckabee, instead, announced that he'd changed his mind.

Earlier today, Huckabee seemed ready to rumble with Romney, even pumping himself up during a morning run.

When a reporter asked him who would win in a foot race between him and Romney, Huckabee said Romney, who has been accused of changing his positions on several issues. Huckabee said his rival, in a race, would "be running both ways the whole time."

Hours later, the stage was set for Huckabee to show his new anti-Romney TV ad. The backdrop read "Enough is Enough!" Nine times. Charts detailed contradicting Romney quotes on abortion, taxes, immigration, guns, and judicial nominations. And, of course, a big screen was present to unveil the new Huck-a-spot.

The Baptist minister did not look to be planning to turn the other cheek.

But then, he announced he was not going to run the ad.

"We ought to change the tone of the debate, and I'm going to start with me," Huckabee said.

The former Arkansas governor then showed the roomful of TV cameras the very ad he said he did not want to see on television — which ensured the ad would be shown on the air.

The ad began with Huckabee's introduction, saying, "Iowans have the right to know the truth about Mitt Romney's dishonest attacks on me, and even an American hero, John McCain."

The ad continued to take jabs at Romney's tax record, support for gun control, and a "government-mandate health plan," which included a $50 co-pay for abortion.

"If a man's dishonest to obtain a job, he'll be dishonest on the job. Iowans deserve better." Huckabee said in the ad.

Huckabee warned reporters before the ad was played, "You're not going to get a copy of it, so this is your chance to see it, then after that, you'll never see it again."