Republicans Focus on Economy

Matt Lewis | January 17, 2008 1:44 PM

It seems the economy has become (at least, for now) the top issue in the race for President. Perhaps sensing the zeitgeist, today in South Carolina, John McCain unveiled his new economic stimulus plan, which is quite similar to earlier tax plans offered by

Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani.

It includes cutting the Corporate Tax Rate from 35 to 25 percent, allowing first-year deductions of Equipment and Technology Investments, and establishing permanent tax credit equal to 10 percent of wages spent on research and development.

Jack Kemp had this to say about McCain's plan:

"John McCain's pro-growth stimulus plan is exactly what our economy needs today. As president, John McCain will provide principled leadership to ensure our economy remains the envy of the free world."

In other news, Rudy Giuliani has a new Florida ad about his fiscal record, which takes a clever little shot at Mitt Romney (one of the quotes in the ad praising Giuliani is from Romney):

In response, Romney's campaign emailed a Palm Beach Post column out, which points out the full context of the quote. (It's less flattering than the quote Rudy used ...)

... Romney's campaign has also issued their own "strategy for a stronger economy."