Governor Romney responded to a negative healthcare mail that the Thompson campaign put out by saying, “at least I have a plan.” An e-mail was sent to Thompson supporters today, which is the day that Massachusetts’ residents must show proof of health care coverage. The e-mail trashed Romney’s plan and said, “There’s nothing conservative about Mitt Romney’s health care plan. It’s a government subsidized health care plan that requires citizens to register with the state, slaps working people with tax penalties, and provides $50 abortions on demand.”

The former Massachusetts governor responded by saying, “at least I have a plan number one. Number two my plan was developed by myself, other advisors. . .I think it is the ultimate form of conservatism to say to people who can afford to buy insurance either buy the insurance or pay your own way, but no more free ride on the government and so my own view it is a very fundamentally conservative program. “

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I also asked the Iowa and New Hampshire frontrunner about the abortion claims in the mail. He simply stated that the “requirement for abortion in Massachusetts are court directed and court mandated. They are not something that the Governor or the legislature are able to adjust because they were mandated by the courts.” The Thompson e-mail said that women in Massachusetts could receive medically necessary and non-medically necessary abortions for fifty dollars.

It was at an economic town hall today in Burbank, CA and afterwards at a press availability where the gloves came off. Romney also slammed Mayor Giuliani on his immigration record. This is something Romney does on the stump frequently, but it comes on the heels of Giuliani’s attacks yesterday when he blasted Romney saying he had, “the worst record on illegal immigration.” Today he responded by saying, “Mayor Giuliani was the mayor of a city, New York City, in which he said if you happen to be an undocumented status. In other words an illegal alien we welcome you here. We will protect you here. He was responsible for a sanctuary city. He did not oppose a sanctuary city. He welcomed illegal aliens to the city. That sanctuary state of mind is one of the reasons we have so many illegal immigrants in our country today.”

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Romney traveled to Las Vegas this evening not to hang out with the Dems, but to campaign in Nevada for the next two days. He will be talking about stronger economies, one part of his three-pillar platform.