Cedar Rapids, Iowa In an appearance in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that just concluded, Fred Thompson defended his vote in favor of campaign finance reform and took a direct shot at Mitt Romney for flip-flopping on that issue and others: “Governor Romney supported McCain-Feingold. He’s changed his position on that just as he has so many other things.” In response to a question from the audience, Thompson offered a meandering defense of McCain-Feingold. After laying out his rationale for seeking to eliminate soft money, Thompson said: “I still believe that today.” But he also conceded that the regulation of spending on issue ads by third parties was a mistake. “That was an error,” he said. “I was wrong. I wouldn’t do that again.” After the hour-long town hall, Thompson was asked about the fact that advisers to Mitt Romney have been raising questions about his votes on campaign finance reform. “Mitt Romney not only was for campaign finance reform and McCain-Feingold, he supported public financing. So I’d love to have a little discussion with him on it.” Thompson then took what was to have been one final question, this one on his rationale for starting his campaign in eastern Iowa. He noted that he was headed to western Iowa tomorrow and quickly dismissed the question. As reporters began to pack up their things, he returned to Mitt Romney. “You know, it’s going to be interesting. If you need a little more background on that we can furnish it. Sometimes these staffs put information out without thinking their positions through. Governor Romney supported McCain-Feingold. He’s changed his position on that just as he has so many other things. He supported public financing in Massachusetts, which no one who supported McCain-Feingold even goes that far. So, I think we need to have him answer a few questions about what he really believes.” Asked why he would be the subject of such criticism from the campaign of a candidate who is polling better that he is, Thompson responded: “They have plenty of money to run all kinds of special polls and do special research. I think they know what’s going on here.”
