Eric Fehrnstrom, spokesman for Romney, said in response to the attacks, "It shouldn't surprise anyone that bitterly divisive Democrats don't have anything good to say about Republicans."

He added, "Fair-minded people look at Mitt Romney as a strong leader, a man of character and integrity, who was elected as governor at a time of job loss and recession, and who managed to balance the budget all four years without raising taxes, and get the Massachusetts economy moving again."

Fehrnstrom added that "Gov. Romney expects to be campaigning as a supporter of the (McCain) ticket and not as a member of it."

A new DNC Web site, thenextcheney.com, attacks eight Republicans rumored to be on McCain's short list for his vice presidential choice. The Web site was launched last week, but it added a section about Romney on Thursday — and the national conference call was held to draw attention to it.

The Web site contends that whomever McCain chooses will essentially help lead to a third term for policies of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Spokesmen for Romney did not immediately respond to Deseret News inquiries about the attack.

Other potential vice presidential picks attacked on the site include Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.; former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge; Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; former Hewlett-Packard board chairwoman Carly Fiorina; Florida Gov. Charlie Crist; FedEx chairman Fred Smith; and Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va.

About Romney, Woodward said, "We need to actually make sure we're informing the public. Look at this guy's track record. Look what he's actually done, not what he says, because he clearly can't maintain the position for more than a couple sound bites."

Walsh added that he hopes the Web site will remind voters about what he says are Romney flip-flops and poor governance.

Walsh said Romney had a "disastrous term as governor." He said, "Massachusetts ranked 46th in job creation during his term. Our unemployment statistics ran behind national trends. In fact, 40,000 fewer people were working in Massachusetts when Mitt Romney left than when he arrived."

Frank added, "He had no interest in being governor of Massachusetts other than to help him run for the presidency. ... He wasn't very good at governing."

Frank has long been a vocal critic of Romney and has been a controversial figure himself. He is an openly gay member of Congress who was formally reprimanded by Congress in 1990 for his relationship with a male prostitute who claimed to run an escort service out of Frank's apartment when he was not home.

Ironically, Republican Larry Craig of Idaho at that time pushed for more severe penalties for Frank, such as expulsion or censure. Craig, now a senator, is involved in his own scandal after pleading guilty to lewd conduct in a Minneapolis airport restroom.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com