HAMPTON, NH – GOP presidential rivals Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney took their mudslinging to the streets of New Hampshire yesterday, accusing each other of being unqualified to be the nominee.
They also called one another clones of Democrat Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton – the ultimate insult to Republicans.
A miffed Romney, noting that Giuliani attacked him Saturday for appointing a Massachusetts judge who later released, without bail, a convicted murderer who then killed again, said the former New York mayor should be “the last person” to complain about appointments. He was referring to ex-New York Police Commissioner and Giuliani pal Bernard Kerik, who is now under federal indictment.
“[Giuliani] put somebody in place as commissioner who had a very questionable past and recommended to the president of the US this person be made the secretary of Homeland Security,” Romney said in Concord.
Romney, pointing out that Giuliani was godfather to Kerik’s kids, questioned Giuliani’s judgment. He said it called to mind Bill Clinton’s administration.
“The ethical conduct in this case of Bernie Kerik reminds us very much of the administration Hillary Clinton was part of,” Romney said.
Still, Romney said the judge he appointed, Kathe Tuttman, should resign.
Giuliani said the appointment of Tuttman “goes to a much bigger point. Gov. Romney had a very poor record in dealing with murder and violent crime as governor.”
Romney insisted violent crime in Massachusetts dropped 7 percent when he was governor. “So [Giuliani] wrong again on the facts,” Romney said.
The Giuliani campaign said murders were up 7.5 percent in Mass. under Romney.
Earlier, Giuliani called the Massachusetts health-care program crafted by Romney a “Clinton”-type program.
Additional reporting by Charles Hurt