Mitt Romney on Rick Santorum: He Focused on Iowa, I’m Running A National Campaign
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Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The winner of last night’s Iowa caucuses dismissed the runner-up, Rick Santorum, as someone who doesn’t have the organization to win the nomination or the right experience to create jobs as president.
“We have very different backgrounds. I spent my life, the first 25 years in the private sector. I know a great deal about how jobs are created, how they come and how they go, and I think Rick has spent most of life in the governmental sector. Nothing wrong with that experience, but it’s very different I think if you want to get the economy going again,” Mitt Romney told me on “GMA.”
Romney only beat Santorum by eight votes, and he outspent the former Pennsylvania senator by a 50 to 1 margin on television ads – something the former Massachusetts governor said was because he’s focusing his efforts on a national campaign.
“Rick has focused his effort, and I think in a wise way, entirely on Iowa. I’ve been campaigning in other states, putting together the kind organization which I believe will get me the 1150 delegate I need. So let me tell you I’m going to take every win I can possibly get and get every delegate I can possibly get,” he said.
The voters of Iowa showed that Romney has won their minds, but not their hearts. According to the entrance polls the very conservative vote fell to Santorum, while Romney won perhaps the more pragmatic vote of who is the person to defeat Obama.
“I think people have to hear me more and more, see my record as the Massachusetts governor and remember that I ran four years ago and that Mike Huckabee and I were the conservative choices in that campaign. We got beaten by a very strong campaigner in John McCain but I’ll just have to get my message across the country,” Romney said.
Santorum is Romney’s prime opponent “at this stage,” he said. But heading into New Hampshire former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has also promised a tough challenge, taking out a full page ad in the Union Leader calling Romney a “timid Massachusetts moderate” and a “liar” on CBS yesterday.
I asked Romney if the term “liar” was out of bounds.
“It’s pretty heated rhetoric obviously. I think he’s just really angry, disappointed. I mean, he was leading in the polls here by a pretty wide margin. One of the things I feel good about is having come from way behind just a few weeks ago to come to a point where we’re in a virtual tie for the finish,” he said.
As for whether Romney will stick by his previous prediction of winning the Republican nomination?
“I sure plan on winning the nomination. It’s no sure thing. I can’t predict how that will happen but I think if I do my job, if my team is able to do a good job, why, we ought to be able to post pretty well against President Obama down the road,” he said.
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“I know a great deal about how jobs are created”
Wrong – he knows how to generate profits for investors, at the expense of jobs.
Posted by: Steve From NH | January 4, 2012, 8:59 am 8:59 am
I lost it for Santorum, like I’m sure others have, when he said something about either cutting or doing away with foodstamps so that the blacks will have to take care of themselves. Excuse me, Mr. Asstorum…. in Iowa, where you said this, over 80% of whites receive foodstamps!
Posted by: Lorrie | January 4, 2012, 9:08 am 9:08 am
Lorrie,
Actually, he never said that. Go back and listen to the clip and you’ll hear him say “pligh,” not “black,” as in a rhetorical stumble of “people’s” and “lives,” the two words he used immediately afterwards. You *might* be able to claim he said “bligh” but there’s definitely no “ack” sound as heard in the word “black.”
Posted by: Stoic Patriot | January 4, 2012, 9:17 am 9:17 am
He Said it.
Posted by: vern | January 4, 2012, 9:28 am 9:28 am
“I know a great deal about how jobs are created”
Wrong – he knows how to generate profits for investors, at the expense of jobs.
Posted by: Steve From NH
______________________
That’s pretty much how jobs are created, by generating profits for investors. When a company’s profits are high, that company grows and creates jobs.
So far we know of only one failure. That was Bain.
Perhaps you can give me an example of a country that has taxed and spent it’s way back into prosperity. Bill Clinton was asked that question and couldn’t answer it.
Posted by: spike | January 4, 2012, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Flip flopping, tell you what you want to hear, Corporations are people too, changes direction more times that the wind, bought and paid for by the same bankers that are repossessing your home while he quadruples his multimillion dollar home, empty suit Romney is a genuine all around loser. I am an American and I approve of this message.
The real battle for liberty and America for real Americans first is only just beginning. Ron Paul 2012!!
Posted by: not2bad | January 5, 2012, 10:01 am 10:01 am
In the upcoming debate, please ask questions that require explaining how they think, not just their opinions. Examples:
1. If a patient arrives at an emergency room with chest pain and no way to pay, should the doctor be able to refuse care? If not, who should be responsible for the cost of their care?
2. Do you believe global warming poses an environmental and ecological threat to our country and planet? If not, how have you come to your opinion? Have you read opinions on both sides independently, or have you only heard from consultants who supported your predisposition?
3. In 2001, tax cuts for the wealthy were intended to spur the economy. What evidence do you have that that approach works? Again, how have you come to that opinion other than personal experience?
4. Do you think we need to improve the level of scientific general knowledge in our educational system? If so, do you think that will affect how many people believe in evolution or global warming?
5. How will you attempt to decrease the divisiveness and gridlock in Congress?
6. Being an outsider has been touted as an attribute for the President. If you were the CEO of a huge corporation, but did not have the authority to hire your appointees, and your most important executive vice presidents (Senators and Congressmen) did not answer to you, how would you hope to accomplish your goals?
If they evade, please point out that you want to know how they think, not just what their opinions are.
Posted by: David Baughan | January 5, 2012, 11:46 pm 11:46 pm
David, see your point on how to find out what the candidates thought, but I think Stephanopoulos went too far Saturday night. His question was not on topic and when he was called on it, he continued trying to make it appear his question was important. As a result I now say ‘ABC NEWS’ means ‘A Bad Channel’ and I will ‘Never EVER Watch Stephanopoulos’!
Posted by: Bill | January 11, 2012, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm