Romney: Giuliani and Hillary Share Values

With just weeks to go before the '08 primary season is officially under way, Mitt Romney is ratcheting up his Rudy-bashing on family values. This morning's Washington Post has the story, but you can go straight to the source by checking over these press releases issued in quick succession y the Romney campaign last night: The first is titled "The Romney Agenda: The Four Walls Of The New Hampshire Home." Those four walls: "Championing Marriage, Protecting Our Children, Strengthening and Empowering Families, and Promoting a Culture of Life." The second Romney release is titled Mayor Giuliani: I'm Seen as Very Liberal" and claims that "Mayor Giuliani & Sen. Clinton Share Liberal Values."

What struck God-o-Meter wasn't that Romney took his latest public values attack public with his wife and kids at his side (see the Post story) but that he chose New Hampshire--not more culturally conservative Iowa--as his staging ground. To God-o-Meter, that suggests that the Romney team is digging in further on its play-to-the Christian Right strategy, even in more libertarian New Hampshire, and leaving the moderate ground to Giuliani. It's a big risk. But Romney apparently believes it's his only hope for getting his party's nod.