More Brownback vs. Romney
Posted: Monday, August 06, 2007 2:20 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Republicans
From NBC's Carrie Dann
A day after the clamorous exchange over abortion between Romney and Brownback at the GOP debate, and a few days after Romney's testy interview with Iowa conservative radio host Jan Mickelson on the same subject, our ears perked up when we heard that Brownback would be a guest on Mickelson's show today. But the fireworks subsided a little, as Brownback sounded just one shot against the former Massachusetts governor before using the rest of his airtime to talk up his conservative credentials in advance of Saturday's Ames straw poll.
Brownback stood by his accusation at the debate that Romney has flip-flopped on abortion, pointing to an ABC News fact-check on the automated anti-Romney calls that his campaign is making in Iowa. Targeting Romney's nuanced position on embryonic stem cell research, Brownback insisted, "that's a pro-choice position. It views life as a tool to use and not as sacred." (Romney opposes the expansion of stem cell research, but does not object to the use of excess embryos from fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded.)
But the gloves didn't stay off long for Brownback, who barely mentioned the scuffle again as he went on to plug his key conservative policies and talk up his campaign's organization in the state.
*** UPDATE *** The Romney campaign emailed us to clarify that he opposes the expanded FEDERAL funding of embyronic stem cell research, but that he would not ban the current privately funded research that involves the use of IVF embryos that are being discarded by fertility clinics.