Mitt and Mac Brawl Over Iraq
Romney denies accusation and wants an apology from McCain.
FORT MYERS, Fla.<br>Jan. 26, 2008 — -- John McCain ripped into Mitt Romney today, claiming his Republican presidential rival had wanted to set a timetable for an Iraqi withdrawal, and then rejected Romney's indignant denial and request for an apology.
McCain's roundhouse at Romney came in the final weekend before the crucial Florida GOP primary Tuesday where the two men are locked in a tight race. Bringing up the Iraq war appeared to be an attempt by McCain to bring the debate back to his political strength, national defense, at a time when the economy was becoming the dominant issue.
McCain fired his first salvo during a rally in Fort Myers, declaring, "Gov. Romney wanted to set a date for withdrawal similar to what the Democrats are seeking, which would have led to a victory by al Qaeda in my view."
"If we surrender and wave a white flag, like Sen. [Hillary] Clinton wants to do, and withdraw, as Gov. Romney wanted to do, then there will be chaos, genocide, and the cost of American blood and treasure would be dramatically higher," he said.
When asked about McCain's claim while speaking with reporters in Lutz, a clearly irked Romney said McCain was being "dishonest."
"To say that I have a specific date is simply wrong and is dishonest, and he should apologize," Romney argued.
"That is not the case. I've never said that," Romney said emphatically, arguing McCain was "trying desperately to change the topic from the economy and trying to get back to Iraq. But to say something that's not accurate is simply wrong and he knows better."
McCain was in no mood to apologize. At a Sun City, campaigning stop later in the day, he said Romney is the one who should apologize.
"Gov. Romney last April said he believed we should set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. My friend, when he suggested that, Gen. [David] Petraeus's new [surge] strategy in Iraq was just beginning," McCain said.
"Now I understand that Gov. Romney has changed his position again as he has on several other issues. But my friends, I was there. He said that he wanted a timetable for withdrawal. That would have meant disaster. That would have meant that al Qaeda would not be telling the world that they defeated the United States of America," he said.
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