Rudy goes jaw-to-jaw Trades barbs with Edwards on terror
Rudy goes jaw-to-jaw
Trades barbs with Edwards on terror
BY CELESTE KATZDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, June 10th 2007, 4:00 AM
Analysis: When it comes to keeping America safe, Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards are in an escalating war of words that shows little sign of cooling." name=storyDesc>
Republican Rudy Giuliani says Democrat John Edwards' anti-terrorism plan is basically a joke. Edwards says Giuliani's making a political career out of spreading fear.
When it comes to keeping America safe, the presidential hopefuls are in an escalating war of words that shows little sign of cooling.
Trades barbs with Edwards on terror
BY CELESTE KATZDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, June 10th 2007, 4:00 AM
Analysis: When it comes to keeping America safe, Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards are in an escalating war of words that shows little sign of cooling." name=storyDesc>
Republican Rudy Giuliani says Democrat John Edwards' anti-terrorism plan is basically a joke. Edwards says Giuliani's making a political career out of spreading fear.
When it comes to keeping America safe, the presidential hopefuls are in an escalating war of words that shows little sign of cooling.
For former Mayor Giuliani, it's a chance to bash a Democrat as clueless on his signature issue, national security, and play up his post-9/11 strongman image.
Former North Carolina Sen. Edwards is trying to lump Giuliani in with the unpopular President Bush and set himself apart from his primary foes by forcefully taking on a major Republican.
Giuliani used several Friday radio shows to mock Edwards' anti-terror proposal, cracking that it's like "some kind of settlement to a personal injury lawsuit" and suggesting Edwards' military plan is "maybe new uniforms."
Former North Carolina Sen. Edwards is trying to lump Giuliani in with the unpopular President Bush and set himself apart from his primary foes by forcefully taking on a major Republican.
Giuliani used several Friday radio shows to mock Edwards' anti-terror proposal, cracking that it's like "some kind of settlement to a personal injury lawsuit" and suggesting Edwards' military plan is "maybe new uniforms."
"This is not even National Security 101," he jeered.
Edwards, meanwhile, has ridiculed Giuliani as a wanna-be "George Bush on steroids," peddling fear instead of facts about security.
Edwards, meanwhile, has ridiculed Giuliani as a wanna-be "George Bush on steroids," peddling fear instead of facts about security.
In swinging at Edwards, Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia Center for Politics said, Giuliani is working a classic front-runner strategy: Act like you've already won your primary and start going right after the other side.
"One thing that unites all Republicans is an attack on the other party's principal figures," Sabato said. "Plus, [national security] is all he wants to talk about, instead of abortion and gay rights, and Edwards has given him the opening."
The difference between the top Democrats is that front-running Sen. Hillary Clintontypically doesn't take the Giuliani bait.
Edwards - who has trailed her and, sometimes, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in polls - appears plenty game for a dogfight.
"It's a better argument for Edwards to have than for Hillary," GOP consultant Dan Schnur said. "Edwards has gone full steam against the war. Even though Hillary's spoken out against it, she's still trying to preserve her national security credentials."
Teams Clinton and Giuliani both declined comment, but a source close to Giuliani said Edwards conveniently "provides a foil for Mayor Giuliani to discuss the need to stay on offense."
The Edwards people aren't complaining: "It gives voters a preview of what a general election matchup might look like between [Giuliani] and the politics of fear and [Edwards] and the politics of hope," said aide Mark Kornblau.
The Edwards people aren't complaining: "It gives voters a preview of what a general election matchup might look like between [Giuliani] and the politics of fear and [Edwards] and the politics of hope," said aide Mark Kornblau.
Not everyone thinks this is the safest fight for Edwards to pick.
"This attack helps Giuliani more than Edwards, because it reminds voters of Giuliani's finest moment," argues Darrell West of Brown University's Taubman Center for Public Policy.
But in his push to woo Dems and top Clinton, Edwards apparently thinks it's worth the risk.
"John Edwards has obviously adopted Dennis Rodman's line: 'The only bad press is an obituary,'" Schnur said.
"This attack helps Giuliani more than Edwards, because it reminds voters of Giuliani's finest moment," argues Darrell West of Brown University's Taubman Center for Public Policy.
But in his push to woo Dems and top Clinton, Edwards apparently thinks it's worth the risk.
"John Edwards has obviously adopted Dennis Rodman's line: 'The only bad press is an obituary,'" Schnur said.
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