Romney Notes "Three-Man Race" Between Himself, McCain, and Rudy; Calls McCain "Disingenuous" On Gay Marriage

Not really a shocker, but the race has pretty much begun.

Eager to position himself as the most conservative GOP presidential hopeful, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accused Sen. John McCain Monday of being �disingenuous� on gay marriage.

In an interview with The Examiner, Romney described himself as more conservative than Republican rivals McCain, R-Ariz., and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on a variety of issues. �We�re in a different place on immigration; we�re in a different place on campaign reform; we�re in a different place on same�sex marriage; we�re in a different place on the president�s policy on interrogation of detainees,� Romney said.

�I�m a conservative Republican, there�s no question about that,� he said. �I�m at a different place than the other two.�

...

Romney [criticized] McCain, who on Sunday told ABC News: �I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states.� McCain also said, �I believe that gay marriage should not be legal.�

Romney seized on the remarks.

�That�s his position, and in my opinion, it�s disingenuous,� he said. �Look, if somebody says they�re in favor of gay marriage, I respect that view. If someone says � like I do � that I oppose same�sex marriage, I respect that view. But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous.�

I still hold out hope for Rudy, but I think right here's your front-runner.

Unless there's some huge scandal in his past that hasn't been uncovered throughout his career, I don't see any reason why he wouldn't win the nomination, fairly easily.

It still really turns on how deftly and fully Rudy can reverse his well-known liberal stances on gun and social issues.

posted by Ace at 05:37 PM

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