West Palm Beach, FL—

Governor Romney went after his rival, Senator John McCain at an early morning press conference outside of a Texaco gas station, purposefully located to go after the McCain-Lieberman climate bill and his sponsor. Romney said the global warming legislation would add an extra 1,000 dollars to the average Florida homeowner’s energy bill without putting restrictions on other countries sending companies and jobs overseas:

“The burden on the Florida homeowner would obviously be excessive and what is particularly troubling about the bill is that the affect on the global environment would be negligible and that’s because the bill does not require other nations to participate in order for the regulation to be promulgated,” Romney said.

He continued his attacks mentioning two more pieces of legislation McCain sponsored and pointed out what he believes is a lack of understanding of economic policy on McCain’s part:

“McCain-Feingold has not reduced the impact of money in politics, it has made it worse. McCain- Kennedy is viewed by virtually all as an amnesty bill and McCain-Lieberman would cost the families of America as much as 1,000 dollars a piece. All 3 are bills, which evidence a lack of understanding of our economy. The very lack of understanding which Senator McCain has admitted on numerous occasions. “

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The former Massachusetts governor was asked what he would do to reduce global warming if he so fiercely opposes McCain-Lieberman:

“With regards to global warming, certainly we want to work with other nations of the world to create a global solution which involves the largest green house gas emitter in the world – China. The idea of America saying we are going to unilaterally but a huge burden on ourselves and hope China follows, is simply out of touch with how the world works. “

The McCain campaign was quick to issue a response:

“Mitt Romney has proven in this campaign that he will say anything to anyone at any time if he thinks it will help him politically. His stunning capacity to reverse his position on virtually every issue casts serious doubt on his ability to lead. Floridians need to ask themselves: If he changes his position today, what prevents him from reversing himself again tomorrow?”

“Just two years ago, Mitt Romney fully supported a ‘cap and trade’ system to deal with global climate change, saying, ‘I’m convinced it is good business,’ and citing its positive effect on development of technologies and economic growth. Today, desperate to attack John McCain in the heat of a political campaign, Mitt Romney has changed his position once again.”

**UPDATE**

From Romney press secretary, Eric Fehrnstrom:

“As governor, Mitt Romney refused to sign a multi-state greenhouse gas initiative because it did not contain limits on price increases. A national cap and trade policy only makes sense if it involves other energy-consuming nations and contains safety valves to protect against sharp price increases.”

Sweetwater, FL–

Governor Romney predicted a win in Florida here in front an enthusiastic mostly Hispanic crowd. He donned a Cuban guayabera shirt to greet the supporters cheering, “Go Mitt go!” Romney was asked by a reporter about the angry back and forth between him and Senator McCain yesterday, but he called that “yesterday’s news:”

“I understand he’s anxious to try and see if he can’t get the topic away from the economy. But I’m going to remind him of his statements time and again about his lack of understanding of the economy,” Romney said. Reporters asked the presidential hopeful several questions on a range of topics, but he brought back most to his rival, John McCain going after him on his lack of experience and understanding of economic policy.

“I simply don’t think, I simply don’t think that the people of Florida are gonna say the nominee of our party ought to be a person who on more than one occasion has expressed lack of understanding of our economy at a time when the economy is the number one issue that people are talking about here in the state of Florida.”

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The former Massachusetts governor also brought up a new attack going after his rival on his legislation, the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act:

“Instead of seeing if there’s a way of stimulating the economy, McCain-Lieberman would depress the economy. His plan calls for a new financial burden to be placed on people who are purchasing gasoline or for that matter natural gas to heat their homes or to cook in their homes. The energy information agency has said that his plan would cost America 300,000 jobs. In addition, people would pay, they estimate, approximately 50 cents per gallon more for gasoline and 20% more for their gas utility bill. That would depress the economy just at a time when we’re trying to stimulate the economy,” Romney continued, tearing into McCain on his understanding of the economy, “One of the challenges with having a president who in this case, we’re talking in this case, a presidential candidate, who says on repeated occasion that he doesn’t understand the economy terribly well is that he would suggest a policy that would actually depress the economy rather than stimulate it at the very time we need our economy to have a greater boost. “

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Romney continues campaigning in Florida tomorrow making five stops around the state, scrambling for those last minute votes before Tuesday’s primary. Romney and McCain are in a dead heat here—a win for either candidate would be a large delegate boost. But, the winner will also use that momentum to go on and try to garner even more delegates on Super Tuesday thereby securing the GOP nomination.