Thompson To Come Out Swinging Against Giuliani, Other Un-Conservative Republicans In Speech

I guess it's time.

Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson swipes at GOP rival Rudy Giuliani in a speech he plans to give Monday night on the former New York mayor's home turf.

"Some think the way to beat the Democrats in November is to be more like them. I could not disagree more," the one-time Tennessee senator says in remarks he is to deliver before the Conservative Party of New York.

"I believe that conservatives beat liberals only when we challenge their outdated positions, not embrace them. This is not a time for philosophical flexibility, it is a time to stand up for what we believe in," Thompson adds.

He doesn't mention Giuliani's name in excerpts made available to The Associated Press, but he's clearly trying to draw a contrast with the rival who's leading in national Republican polls.

Giuliani was once a Democrat. Unlike Thompson, the New Yorker backs abortion rights and gay rights. And, the ex-mayor's central argument for Republicans to nominate him is that he gives them the most likely shot to win in the general election.

Ahead of Thompson's speech, Giuliani's campaign arranged for several deputy mayors who served in his administrations to hold a news conference in Times Square later Monday to promote his success in reducing crime, overhauling welfare and cutting taxes.

"Some candidates talk the talk about Republican principles. Others actually have a proven track record of governing according to Republican principles. Rudy Giuliani has that record," Randy Mastro, a deputy mayor in Giuliani's first term told the AP before the news conference.

With voting beginning in under three months, Thompson is trying to win the support of conservatives who are pivotal in GOP primaries.

"With me, what you see is what you get. I was a proud conservative yesterday, I remain one today, and I will be one tomorrow," Thompson says.

Giuliani really opened himself up to this -- and to the grim possibility of 1/4 of the conservative base voting third party or staying home -- by being so damnably stubborn in refusing to tack to the right on the three hot-buttons of gay marriage, abortion, and guns.

posted by Ace at 05:14 PM

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