Romney Jabs At Top Dem Candidates

By: Chris Dorsey

Iowa Politics

Saturday, Jul 28, 2007

"Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney today challenged the tax policy Democrat John Edwards rolled out a day earlier in the same building.

"Edwards proposed a rewriting of the U.S. tax code that he said would boost the middle class. The plan includes a plan to let families exempt $250 in investment income from taxes. Romney said he would not call the Edwards proposal a savings plan.

"'He has a special savings program,' Romney said to a crowd of more than 100 people Friday morning at the Madison County Historical Museum. 'I understand you can save $250 tax-free. ... That is not a savings plan in my view.'"

...

"Today marked the former Massachusetts governor's first visit to Winterset of 2007, and it came on the heels of a straw poll victory at last week's Madison County Fair. More than 150 people voted in the county fair straw poll that Romney won, defeating former Sen. Fred Thompson by a 2-to-1 margin. With 50 votes, Romney captured nearly one-third of the total. Closest to him was the 25 cast for Thompson, who has not officially entered the race.

"Romney shared his plan, which he called 'one strike and you are ours.' He said that MySpace.com recently detected 29,000 convicted sex offenders using its Web site. Those preying on children via computers must suffer harsh penalties, Romney said.

"'The number of people using the Internet as a way to find kids - to be predators against kids (concerns me),' Romney said. 'I want to put in place a new provision I call "one strike and you're ours." Someone who uses the Internet to commit an assault on a child ought to go to jail for a long, long time. If and when they ever get out, they ought to have a GPS ankle bracelet so we know where they are forever so no adult can ever abuse one of these children.'"

Romney Picks Up Backing During Two-Day Iowa Visit

By: Perry Beeman

Des Moines Register

Saturday, Jul 28, 2007

"Presidential candidate Mitt Romney wrapped up a two-day Iowa swing Friday leading the Republican field both in a new poll and in the number of state lawmakers backing his candidacy.

"In visits to 10 cities, Romney stuck mostly to his policy cue cards as he worked to build momentum for the Aug. 11 straw poll in Ames. Romney has visited Iowa often, investing heavily in the straw poll despite decisions by candidates such as Rudy Giuliani and John McCain to bypass the early test of campaign strength.

"The straw poll is basically an exercise in organization. Candidates lure people to the event through food - Romney plans to dish out barbecue from Ames' landmark Hickory Park restaurant - free rides and entertainment. Romney's wife, Ann, and five sons plan to make the trip to Ames."

...

"Romney's frequent Iowa visits - he'll be back next week - may have helped him climb to the top of a KCCI-TV poll released Thursday. That poll showed Romney gaining ground after McCain and Giuliani turned away from the straw poll."

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"Romney continued to attract support from state lawmakers.

"Rep. Rich Anderson of Clarinda and Rep. Chuck Soderberg of Le Mars joined his list of supporters, Romney announced Thursday. He leads the Republican field in such endorsements."...