Romney getting aggressive in Iowa

DUBUQUE, Iowa, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has intensified his battle for the White House by attacking fellow Republican Mike Huckabee in Iowa.

With support for Romney's campaign for the Republican nomination declining in Iowa primarily due to Huckabee's recent surge, Romney has altered his campaigning stance by becoming increasingly aggressive with his political rival, The New York Times reported Saturday.

In one recent public appearance, Romney accused Huckabee of engaging in excessive spending while governor of Arkansas.

"He financed that by raising taxes time and again," Romney said of the more than $6 billion Huckabee allegedly spent while leading the state. "He raised sales taxes, gasoline taxes, grocery taxes, even taxes on nursing home beds."

Romney previously had a sizable lead on his fellow Republican candidates in Iowa, but recent polls have shown Huckabee is now in a dead heat with the Massachusetts politician.

The Times said other officials have criticized Huckabee's reported lack of resources, alleging any support for the former governor merely strengthens the campaign of Republican front-runner, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.