McCain-Romney Tensions

Almost lost in the coverage from South Carolina is an increasingly close battle between two leading GOP candidates. As Senator McCain and Gov. Romney each compete for the upcoming Florida primary it is increasingly apparent that both sides see the other as their primary challenge for the nomination.

Some highlights of the recent coverage:

• The NYT's John Broder argues that McCain is gaining support from the mainstream GOP (login required).
• Sasha Issenberg and Michael Levenson of the Boston Globe detail how McCain is challenging Romney on questions of setting deadlines for withdrawing from Iraq. CNN's Jeffrey Toobin checks in and disputes the McCain allegation.
  
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• Elizabeth Holmes of the WSJ argues that recent economic turmoil is shifting the focus to Romney.
• Michael Luo, also of the NYT, reports that Romney is disliked among other GOP candidates. Enjoy this quote

"... the almost visceral scorn directed at Mr. Romney by his rivals has been overshadowed. “Never get into a wrestling match with a pig,” Senator John McCain said in New Hampshire this month after reporters asked him about Mr. Romney. “You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”"