SNEAK PEEK:Showdown in the Sunshine State
Republicans sharpen attacks in lead up to debate
November 27, 2007— -- 36 days until the Iowa caucuses
It has been over a month since the last Republican presidential debate, which feels like eons if you have set your watch to campaign time.
Since then we have seen…
-Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani throwing stones, flinging rocks and looking for boulders as the two turn up the heat on the issues of crime, immigration, spending and who most resembles Hillary Clinton.
-A tightening race in Iowa as Mike Huckabee creeps up on the front-tier candidates, raises more money and looks like a force to be reckoned with there.
-Giuliani expand beyond a Feb. 5 only strategy and start to make an active play in New Hampshire, spending more time on the ground and running ads there
-Progress in Iraq allowing John McCain to say he was right about the troop surge
-Ron Paul rake in an impressive $4.3 million online in one day and make GQ's Men of the Year 2007 list.
-Pat Robertson endorse Giuliani, Sam Brownback endorse McCain and Chuck Norris and Ric Flair endorse Huckabee (which one, if any, will actually matter?)
On Wednesday all eight Republican presidential hopefuls get together on one stage to participate in the CNN/YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida at 8:00 pm ET.
The debates will occur more frequently between now and the Iowa caucuses but no candidate can afford a bad night with the race as close and wide open as it is.
Things to look for in Florida:
-How many times is the "H-word" used by Giuliani and Romney against the other?
-Which candidate takes advantage of the sparring between Giuilani and Romney and use it to rise above the fray in a "Can't we all just get along" sort of moment?
-Will Huckabee need to wear his own asbestos suit in anticipation of increased attacks from the frontrunners who may be sweating his surging poll numbers in Iowa?
-What name is mentioned first – Bernard Kerik or Kathe Tuttman?
-Who has a better chance of showing up with a question on YouTube - Richard Florino, Chris Dodd or a snowman? LINK
The Brothers Romney provide a nice little photo op in the morning in St. Petersburg when they hold a belated Turkey Bowl. The brothers invited local supporters and campaign reporters for a friendly game of touch football at 11:00 am ET in St. Petersburg, FL. (This may be just be a thinly disguised opportunity for the campaign to push around a few reporters).
ABC News' Matt Stuart reports that touch football doesn't always end up that way with the Romney boys. Speaking about the family tradition of football on Thanksgiving, Romney said "We call it touch football but somebody ends up getting hurt..."
Last week Mitt Romney took some heat for a comment made by his one of his supporters, New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg. Gregg said as a native of the Granite State he "viewed Iowa as being a place where they pick corn and New Hampshire being a place where we pick presidents."
Did Barack Obama take a shot at Iowa voters while wooing others in New Hampshire?
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Nancy Flores report that Obama expressed a mixture of surprise and delight Tuesday that the guys "in overalls" whom he is meeting while campaigning in rural Iowa are asking him about Burma -- not corn.
"One of the great pleasures of running for president has been, you know, to go to some tiny town in Iowa and you've got some guy in overalls and a seed hat say, 'what do you think about the situation in Burma?' You know, and you think he is going to ask you about corn -- and he asks you about Burma," said Obama, provoking laughter from the New Hampshire audience. "But that happens all the time."
Watch Obama's comments here:
The Republicans. . .
RUDY GIULIANI
-- 8:00 pm ET: Participates in the CNN/YouTube Debate, St. Petersburg, FL
MITT ROMNEY
-- 9:00 am ET: Files for Illinois Primary ballot, Springfield, IL
-- 8:00 pm ET: Participates in the CNN/YouTube debate, St. Petersburg, FL
ROMNEY BROTHERS
--11:00 am ET: Host a turkey bowl, St. Petersburg, FL
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 9:15 am ET: Attends a town hall meeting, Clemson, SC
--10:40 am ET: media availability, Clemson, SC
--8:00 pm ET: Participates in the CNN/YouTube debate, St. Petersburg, FL
FRED THOMPSON
-- 8:00 pm ET: Participates in the CNN/YouTube Debate, St. Petersburg, FL
MIKE HUCKABEE
-- 8:00 pm ET: Participates in CNN/YouTube Debate, St. Petersburg, FL
RON PAUL
-- 8:00 pm ET: Participates in CNN/YouTube Debate, St. Petersburg, FL
TOM TANCREDO
-- 8:00 pm ET: Participates in CNN/YouTube Debate, St. Petersburg, FL
DUNCAN HUNTER
-- 8:00 pm ET: Participates in CNN/YouTube Debate, St. Petersburg, FL
As for the Democrats. . .
HILLARY CLINTON
-- 1:15 pm ET: Addresses health care issues with locals, Ankeny, IA
BARACK OBAMA
-- No public events, NY
MICHELLE OBAMA
--11:35 am ET: Attends Wapello County meeting, Ottumwa, IA
--1:45 pm ET: Attends Appanoose County meeting, Centerville, IA
--3:45 pm ET: Attends Wayne County meeting, Corydon, IA
--6:00 pm ET: Attends Decatur County meeting, Lamoni, IA
--8:45 pm ET: Attends Warren County meeting, Indianola, IA
JOHN EDWARDS
--6:00 am ET: Appears on MSNBC's Morning Joe
--Appears on Charlie Rose PBS
JOE BIDEN
--10:30 am ET: Delivers address to the Iowa Association of Counties, Des Moines, IA
--8:30 pm ET: Speaks at the College Convention 2008, Manchester, NH
CHRIS DODD
-- 10:00 am ET: Delivers address to the Iowa State Association of Counties Fall gathering, Des Moines, IA
BILL RICHARDSON
-- No public events, New York, NY
DENNIS KUCINICH
-- 1:00 pm ET: Speaks at College Convention 2008, Manchester, NH
--8:00 pm ET: Participates in broadcast of town hall meeting live on MCAM, NH
MIKE GRAVEL
-- No public schedule
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
--11:00 am ET: Meets with the President of the Palestinian Authority
--1:15 pm ET: Meets with the Prime Minister of Israel
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Eloise Harper: Clinton Calls on Powell LINK
ABC News' Teddy Davis: Powell Mum on Clinton Plan to Tap Him LINK
ABC News' Ed O'Keefe: Gingrich Predicts Obama in Iowa LINK
ABC News' Matt Stuart: Romney: Giuliani 'Roses and Petals' for Clinton Health Plan LINK
ABC News' Avni Patel and Richard Esposito: Out of Spotlight, Giuliani Embraces Convicted Moneyman LINK
ABC News' Tom Shine: The Senate's 'Amazing Race' LINK
ABC News' Z. Bryron Wolf: Lott's Departure Precedes Ethics Restrictions LINK