Rudy Giuliani stands for Clinton's health care plan

In Mitt Romney's opinion rival Rudy Giuliani "had nothing but praise" when then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed a universal health care plan.

Photo: Rudy Giuliani stands for Clinton's health care plan

Romney's campaign cited a 1994 New York Times article quoting the former New York mayor as praising the Clinton plan for "doing some pretty good things." The plan was never enacted.

"When Hillary's plan first came out, Rudy Giuliani had nothing but praise for Hillary's plan. Why the change? Why the change in attitude? When it first came out, he was all roses and petals for Hillary's plan. All full of praise. Now I'm running for president, he's decided it's not such a good idea," Romney said during a news conference.

The exchange is the latest in a series of attacks between the Republican candidates. Giuliani recently criticized the health care plan Romney passed as Massachusetts governor to provide health insurance for all residents, saying "he sort of did Hillary's plan in Massachusetts."

Clinton is now a senator and a Democratic presidential candidate.

"Romney is once again standing in a glass house with a bunch of stones in his hands," Giuliani spokeswoman Katie Levinson said in an e-mail Tuesday. "Romney passed a mandate and tax hike-laden health care plan in Massachusetts which Hillary Clinton's own legislative director said was just like Hillarycare."

Romney indicated that he is prepared to continue the fight during a CNN/YouTube debate Wednesday night.

"I've got to point out that facts are stubborn things and that the mayor needs to check the facts before he launches attacks."