Swift: Democrats will brand Romney `flip-flopper'

Jane Swift is warning New Hampshire voters that it would be a mistake to nominate fellow Republican Mitt Romney for president.

Swift — the acting governor who was elbowed aside when Romney made his own run for governor in 2002 — says Democrats could eviscerate him as a "flip-flopper.'' The former acting governor has endorsed John McCain.

She says Democrat Hillary Clinton would surely attack Romney for changing his views on abortion if Clinton emerges as her party's nominee.

The Romney camp replied with a tart statement underscoring the bad feelings between the two former allies.

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom says the McCain campaign must be desperate (quote) "when they look down their bench of surrogates and the only person sitting there is Jane Swift.''

Swift's comments first appeared in a New Hampshire newspaper column.