CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Mitt Romney appeared today to acknowledge a recent poll that found President Obama more likeable by warning a crowd in North Carolina that "even if we like" the president, Americans "can't afford" his policies.

Romney's nod to the issue of likeability came during a speech billed as a "prebuttal" to  Obama's speech that will be delivered at the Democratic National Convention later this fall.

"Even if you like Barack Obama, we can't afford Barack Obama," said Romney. "It's time to get someone that will get this economy going and put the American people back to work with good jobs and rising income."

An ABC News/Washington Post poll earlier this week found Romney trailing President Obama in personal popularity by 21 points, becoming the first presumptive nominee to be seen more unfavorably than favorably in the past 28 years.

The poll found that 35 percent of Americans see Romney favorably and 47 percent have see him unfavorable. Fifty-six percent of Americans saw Obama favorably in the poll.

Today Romney urged voters not to "fall for the same lines" from the president, even suggesting that the public not be overly-trusting of the commander-in-chief.

"We're a trusting people, we're a hopeful people, but we're not dumb," said Romney.

"And we're not going to fall for the same lines from the same person just because it's in a difference place," said Romney. "We're going to recognize that it's time that we've learned who Barack Obama is and what he's capable of doing, that he's over his head and he's swimming in the wrong direction. And we're convinced that it's time to get America working again."