Romney And McCain Hands Off In Debate, Gloves Off On The Airwaves

Last night's GOP debate was a fairly polite affair, with no candidate really going after any other — a far cry from Monday's Democratic debate and far less contentious than anticipated. Perhaps that was because the salvos were laying in wait. Mitt Romney, who is seeing momentum of late in Florida with his talk about and record on economic issues, is still second in the polls to Florida frontrunner John McCain, who enjoyed victories in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Those victories were won in the absence of any negative ads — a mistake that that challenger Mitt Romney seems determined to avoid in Florida. Below, his latest web ad, targeting McCain for flip-flopping on tax cuts. Simple, yet effective:

Not coincidentally, John McCain also came out with a similarly-themed ad targeting Romney on the more broad subject of flip-flopping. Notice any similar, er, themes?

A nice touch, the Kerry windsurf reference. Romney's came first -- is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? And do either of them hold a candle to this?

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