Posted on 02/01/2012 9:33:28 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
TAMPA, Florida - Mitt Romney regained the lead in the Republican presidential nomination race with a big win in Florida, but drew criticism on Wednesday in what should have been his victory lap with remarks suggesting he was indifferent to America's poor.
Romney rolled to an impressive triumph in Florida, capturing 46 percent of the vote to Newt Gingrich's 32 percent after pounding his nearest rival with negative advertisements.
The victory restored him to front-runner status in the state-by-state battle for the Republican nomination to run against Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 6 general election.
But the wealthy ex-governor and former private equity executive, who lost the South Carolina primary on January 21 after opponents painted him as a heartless capitalist, gave a reminder of the challenges he will face winning over voters struggling with the economic downturn and high unemployment.
In an interview on CNN, Romney said he was not concerned about the poorest Americans, but that his primary focus was on the middle class.
"I'm not concerned about the very poor, we have a safety net there," he said, adding, "If it needs repair, I'll fix it."
Romney also said he would leave concern for the poor to the Democratic party.
"We will hear from the Democrat party the plight of the poor," Romney said. "And there's no question it's not good being poor and we have a safety net to help those that are very poor. But my campaign is focused on middle Americans.
"You can choose where to focus, you can focus on the rich, that's not my focus. You can focus on the very poor, that's not my focus. My focus is on middle income Americans, retirees living on Social Security, people who can't find work."
TOUGH PATH AHEAD
Opponents seized on his remarks. Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse emailed them to journalists, with the introduction, "I'm glad he cleared that up."
U.S. voters have said the sputtering economy is their main concern for the 2012 elections.
Romney has touted his business experience while harshly criticizing Obama and his Republican opponents for their lack of private sector experience.
Romney, who has a personal fortune estimated at some $270 million, came under fire earlier in the campaign for saying that he liked to fire people, although those comments were taken out of context. continued
What's wrong with that sentence?
It's called throwing them a bone to stop the yapping. He's big gov't, so, yes he'll expand. Throw money at the problem is his/liberal answer because he doesn't have an original thought. We know why he didn't want to debate w/Trump being moderator. One very successful business man on his own asking mitt who is running on his 'expertise' as a businessman - he would not survive it. He's not allowed out on his own.
So this is his second chance at willingly being the sacrifice - and the first time he used his own money to do it. Gotcha!
He wants it, he's been planning it since he dropped out in 08. Over three years of coaching, getting his candidates who are hungry politically on stage with him. He helped some conservatives to garner their support - he played them and promised others. He knew he had no record a R would vote for - so he went after money to trash and support to protect him. The media likes the little liberal, so he knew that obstacle was taken care of And the GOP E do not want Patriot Newt who will shake up their nest.
He's acting the way he is - is because this is the way he is. The longer he talks expect the real mitt to emerge. Barry#2
The MSM is leading the evening news with the Facebook IPO and Romney’s comment. They are not going to let Romney off the hook.
I watch most of Fox’s Special Edition and they seem quite worried. Krauthammer (to his credit) said it was a huge blunder but Fred Barnes kept saying “Look! This is being over analyzed!” Even Bret Baier was trying to pull Mitt from the muck.
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