Romney, Giuliani take off the gloves

The war of words, press releases, and opposition research between Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney on taxes and spending has descended into -- you guessed it -- accusations of hypocrisy and even plagiarism.

The spat -- now in its second day -- started when Romney, during a campaign stop in New Hampshire, bashed Giuliani for opposing the presidential line-item veto and backing a commuter tax while New York's mayor.

After several more exchanges, Giuliani's camp this afternoon blasted a missive, headlined "Romney's Taxachusetts History," criticizing his tax record as Massachusetts governor.

Giuliani told an anti-tax group in Washington today that Republicans were to blame for losing control of Congress last November by spending too much and approving too many pork-barrel projects while they were in charge.

Romney's camp just responded by arguing that Giuliani's message borrowed liberally from ads and speeches last month in which Romney said that Republicans needed to put their own house in order in Washington, including a return to fiscal responsibility.

"If the mayor’s words about wasteful spending sounded familiar today, I'd have to agree," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said in an email linking to the TV spot. "Thanks for agreeing with Governor Romney's message!"