Mitt blasts Rappaport attacks

Republican Mitt Romney, escalating an intraparty war just days before the primary, yesterday accused lieutenant governor hopeful James Rappaport of sponsoring “disgraceful” and damaging attacks on him and his running mate, Kerry Healey.

Romney, in an interview with the Herald, charged Rappaport with waging a “subterranean” effort to discredit Healey and him through the use of 11th-hour negative mailings and phone calls to GOP voters.

The mailings and calls – some paid for by an obscure Republican town committee – question Healey and Romney’s conservative credentials on a slew of hot-button issues ranging from gay marriage to bilingual education.

“It’s an insult to the party and an insult to me,” said Romney, the former Winter Olympics chief and soon-to-be GOP gubernatorial nominee. “They (Rappaport) are attacking her for my positions . . . and that’s only helping the Democrats. That’s not helping us keep the Corner Office. This is doing the Democrats’ work for them.”

A Rappaport aide yesterday denied sponsoring the mailings by the Arlington Republican Town Committee but defended them, saying they simply “point out” Rappaport’s positions.

“People are now starting to realize that he is the more conservative of the two candidates,” Rappaport spokeswoman Kim Rezendes said.

The comments by Romney are his first direct assault on Rappaport, the Concord businessman and former party chairman who is challenging Romney’s hand-picked running mate, Healey.

Romney’s decision to go after his fellow Republican reflects a new sense of urgency about the tight lieutenant governor contest. A number of Romney aides believe that a Rappaport victory will weaken the GOP ticket because of Rappaport’s more conservative views and business background.

Healey last night launched a new TV ad in which she speaks to the camera for the first time. The Healey campaign is also targeting GOP voters with a taped message from U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who calls Healey the “best lieutenant governor candidate” to help Romney.

Rappaport, however, says his experience and longtime loyalty to the Republican Party will bolster the ticket.

The statewide mailings cited by Romney are paid for by the Arlington GOP group, which is led by a Rappaport campaign consultant, Edward Marullo.

The mailings have been sent out from the same bulk mail facility used by Rappaport’s campaign. Romney aides estimate the mailings will end up costing several hundred thousand dollars. In 2000 and 2001, the Arlington GOP committee only spent a total of $2,242, records show.

Rezendes denied the campaign was supporting the Arlington group financially. Marullo did not return a phone call from the Herald.

“We have no control of what the committee mails out but we appreciate their support,” Rezendes said.

But Rezendes said the mailings show an accurate portrayal of Healey and Romney’s position on issues.

The latest mailing, titled “Be Ready,” questions whether Romney will serve out his term if he’s elected governor, citing the early departures by former GOP Govs. William F. Weld and Paul Cellucci. Next to a photo of Romney is the caption: “What If?”

“I have said time again I do commit to all four years,” Romney said. “For a campaign to question my integrity about my willingness to be here all four years is an insult to me and an insult to the Republican Party standard bearer.”

Rappaport’s campaign is also making a late appeal to conservatives. In a series of phone calls to GOP voters yesterday, the campaign touts Rappaport as the “only” candidate who “fully supports” the referendum initiative to mandate English immersion for school children.

A similar mailing from the Arlington group features a picture of smiling children and claims Healey wants the initiative “diluted.” Romney said he and Healey support the initiative, but would change it legislatively to strike out a provision allowing parents to sue teachers.

“Of course we support English for the children,” Romney said.

The Rappaport calls also accuse Healey of not “fully supporting our Second Amendment rights” to carry guns and says that Healey “believes that 16-year-olds should have abortions without informing their parents.”

Another Rappaport call and a mailing by the Arlington group implies that Healey does not oppose same-sex marriage. Romney has said he doesn’t support same-sex marriage but would support some domestic partner rights.

Romney said these tactics are “misleading and deceptive” and are designed to undercut Healey without drawing much public scrutiny.

“It’s very, very disappointing,” Romney said. “They’re attacking the guy who has to win for either Jim or Kerry to stand a chance of even becoming lieutentant governor. It’s pull out all the stops for Rappaport without regard to the party. And that kind of campaign I repudiate.”



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