Management vs. Leadership: GOP Edition

Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have been having a debate for several weeks now over whether managerial competence or inspirational leadership is more important in a president. Now a couple of Republican contenders are having their turn.

Speaking in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., late last week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., drew a contrast between himself and one of his top competitors, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Here's how MSNBC's "First Read" characterized McCain's remarks:

"I think everybody knows the difference between leadership and management," McCain told a group of reporters gathered at an airport here. "You can hire managers all the time, people who do the mechanics, people who implement policies, people who are good with assets. Leadership is people who inspire… Leadership is people who have had hands on experience with patriotism and service to the nation… Leadership is the ability to inspire and the ability to make Americans serve causes greater than their self-interest."

Asked what that description of leadership implied about his biggest opponent in Florida, McCain said, "Governor Romney is touting his qualities and his experience and resume as a manager. I am telling the American people that I am a leader and they know it."

Among the "people who inspire," McCain listed Ronald Reagan and Gen. David Petraeus.

Romney, CNN's "Political Ticker" reported, fired back thusly:

He told supporters in Pensacola that as the only candidate at Thursday’s Florida Republican debate who had worked in the private sector, he was uniquely qualified to lead on economic issues.

He added that in his view, McCain hadn’t done well at the forum: the senator “had to come back and flail a bit, trying to attack my record, saying that my record â€" 25 years in the business world and three years running the Olympics, and then four years as governor of Massachusetts â€" that that doesn't qualify me to understand how the economy works."