Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Fred Thompson dropped out of the race Tuesday.
COMBINED DISPATCHES
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — With world finances and the stock market plunged into turmoil, Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani argued in South Florida campaign stops on Tuesday that they are best suited to guide the economy through turbulent times.
The candidates used a news cycle dominated by a jittery Wall Street, fears of recession and a rare move by the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates to highlight their campaign themes — Romney as an executive with business acumen, Giuliani as the mayor who brought New York City back from financial ruin.
Meanwhile, Florida’s unpredictable primary fight got a fresh jolt of uncertainty Tuesday when Fred Thompson dropped out of the race. Thompson’s newly up-for-grabs supporters potentially could tip the balance among the top four contenders — Giuliani, Romney, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Addressing reporters at a Coral Springs restaurant, Romney urged Congress to act quickly — within weeks — on a short-term economic-stimulus package. “It’s important we take very aggressive action to send the market away from a recession,” said Romney, who met about 100 supporters at the strip-mall Wings Plus restaurant on Sample Road before cutting over to the west coast for a slew of campaign events.
Campaigning at TooJay’s Original Gourmet Deli in Palm Beach Gardens, Giuliani offered no specific short-term stimulus package but seized on the economic unease to tout his tax-cut plan and résumé as mayor.
“This is a time when we need a president that understands how you stimulate an economy,” Giuliani said, citing his ability to bring down New York City’s high unemployment rate and reduce debt through tax cuts and spending restrictions.
Today, McCain and Huckabee make campaign stops in South Florida, a day before a crucial debate at Florida Atlantic University.
Meanwhile, Hillary Rodham Clinton is playing hit-and-run with South Carolina voters, an angry Barack Obama charged Tuesday.
Obama, campaigning in Myrtle Beach a day after Monday’s pointedly personal debate, took a parting shot at Clinton, who left the state for a two-day swing through Washington, D.C., California, Arizona, New Jersey and New York. Bill Clinton, campaigning in her stead, made stops in Greenville, Columbia and Aiken.
“I think the South Carolina voters will have to make an assessment in terms of how seriously she’s taking the state,” Obama told the Christian Broadcast Network on Tuesday. “She said last night that Bill Clinton wasn’t the one running for president, but this is the next primary and he’s the one who’s staying behind.”