Romney, McCain clash over conservative orthodoxy

Sen. John McCain and Mitt Romney clashed Wednesday over Iraq and the economy, sometimes with tough talk, sometimes with dueling facts, in the final GOP debate before more than 20 states vote in GOP contests next week.

The last showdown featured McCain, fresh from a Florida primary victory, and Romney both showing anger when they argued over whether Romney once endorsed timetables for ending U.S. involvement in Iraq. That was the night's harshest exchange, but not the only one.

Conservative orthodoxy -- and the perceived shortcomings that all the remaining Republican candidates have with the right wing of their party -- was at the heart of the debate.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, said McCain twice voted against President Bush's tax cuts and pushed campaign finance reforms that restricted fundraising and spending. The Republican establishment embraced the tax cuts and opposed the new campaign law, which many saw as more helpful to Democrats.

"Those views are outside the view of mainstream Republican thought," Romney said.

The Arizona senator disputed the claims, saying "I'm proud of my conservative record." He said Romney left Massachusetts with high taxes and a large debt. "His job creation was the third worst in the country," McCain said.

McCain, who fixed a gentle smile on his face most of the night, looked tense. Romney, sitting to his left, usually answered with a half-smile and a determined look in his eye. The two men rarely looked at one another during the 90-minute debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif..

That drew a protest from Huckabee. "I want to make sure everybody understands this isn't a two-man race. ... If you want to talk conservative credentials, let me get in on that," said Huckabee, who has not won a contest since the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus.

He won't be president, but what about Homeland Security Secretary Giuliani or even Gov. Giuliani?

Despite the collapse of his White House bid, experts say the former New York mayor has not permanently lost his political luster. Rudy Giuliani, 63, dropped out of the race Wednesday and endorsed McCain, but he said little about his plans beyond a willingness to campaign for McCain.

If Giuliani makes good on his offer and hits the trail for McCain, it would solidify their alliance and position him for a Cabinet post if McCain becomes president, some observers say.

"He drops out, endorses McCain, McCain becomes the president, Rudy could be a Cabinet appointee; he could be homeland security chief, he could be attorney general," said Douglas Muzzio, a political science professor at Baruch College. "His electoral life is over, but not necessarily his political life."