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On the very day that Mitt Romney picked up a key endorsement from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), his campaign is now receiving criticism after a top adviser suggested that Romney could hit a "reset button" in the general election -- like someone shaking up an "Etch A Sketch."
On CNN this morning, adviser Eric Fehrnstrom -- who worked for Romney when he was Massachusetts governor, as well as on his two presidential campaigns -- was asked if he was concerned that the GOP primary has forced Romney too far to the right, which could hurt him with moderate voters in the general.
Fehrnstrom's answer: "Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again."
He added, "But I will say, if you look at the exit polling data in Illinois, you'll see that Mitt Romney is broadly acceptable to most of the factions in the party. You have to do that in order to become the major party nominee. He's winning conservatives; he's winning Tea Party voters; he's winning men, women; he's winning Catholics and Protestants."
The Santorum campaign quickly seized on Fehrnstrom's "Etch A Sketch" comment, charging that it was an admission that Romney will abandon his conservative positions in a general election.
"We all knew Mitt Romney didn't have any core convictions, but we appreciate his staff going on national television to affirm that point for anyone who had any doubts," said Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley. "Voters can trust that Rick Santorum will say what he believes, and do what he says. They may not always agree with Rick Santorum, but they can trust him because they know he is a man of principle. Clearly, the same cannot be said of Governor Romney."
The Obama campaign also piled on. Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter tweeted that Fehrnstrom "says on CNN that Romney will erase his hard right positions in general election like an etch-a-sketch. Yeah, don't think so."
While it's commonplace for a general-election candidate to tack back to the center in a general election -- think Barack Obama shifting his position on renegotiating NAFTA -- this is particularly tricky territory for Romney, who once supported abortion rights (but now opposes them), who raised fees and revenues as Massachusetts governor (but now opposes that), and who championed an individual health-care mandate in his state (but now opposes a federal one).
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Santorum's downturn started when he blasted Romney for his "I don't care about the poor" (they have a safety net comment) - and ever since then in every instance when he blasts Romney he gets knuckles in his face and loses more delegates than needs be. Santorum would be wise to present himself and stop blasting Romney - it does not work for him - he should know by now to just run his own clean primary to win delegates. Santorum should run against oh blay mah only - he may yet have a chance for the nomination if he does. I believe in Romney - and I won't vote for Santorum.
Yea but really...Romney spends millions and he can't find one guy who doesn't kiss his butt,and instead tell him to shut the &^%$ up !!! Romneycare is enough to sink him,he doesn't need to take on EXTRA water....
@spar2cuss
The saddest part of that little line is that the Republicans are proposing gutting that safety net even more with the budget Paul Ryan is proposing. This does not bode well for America. But, Ryan does want to hand out more tax cuts. That would be a great time to the Republicans to start another war.
These GOP clowns just keep the laughs coming. For that reason, I'll be sorry to see the GOP Nomination Carnival shut down. It's been quite entertaining.
Why is it that everytime a neoco/teabagger/repub politician does something bad, their supporters say "what about Pres. Obama"? Why don't you people just admit it your party has ZERO original ideas - just recylced and OLD liberal ideas! Your shape shifting candidate will LOSE badly in November. How will romney get women, Blacks, Hispanics. senior citizens, veterans, poor folks, the middle class or anyone who is not a mindless morman to support him.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 we got it straight in 08
They're even recycling the BUSH name...but I take one exception...OBAMA/CLINTON 2012 !!!
This is what happens when Republicans try to be clever. Please stick to the approved talking points.
The Republicans are something else. It is bad enough that the Republicans and the Democrats are nasty to each other but when the Republicans are nasty to each other no wonder they will reelect President Obama.
So, that means Romney will go back to flip-flopping?
yep...it's like he's wearing a shock collar....
*ZAP*
"Ow! Damn! Sorry guys, my bad. I forgot we changed it this week. Didn't look at the schedule."
Cowboy,
Hiliarious comment. You sound like a real cowboy.
From a real cowgirl- well actually horse-girl.
Wow. "Etch a sketch". Romney's got a new nickname, and what more can one say?
The problem with santorum is that if you shake it up, you just end up with santorum all over everything, and who wants that?
My favorite Mitty-somes...
Peter Pander
Ricochet Romney
Flipper
Max Headroom
The Dog winderer
Squishy pants
The Mittster
Mittens
Mitts n grits
and my favorite campaign theme for team Romney...Puttin' on the Mitt !!!Yep..this guy should put the fear of God in China.....
Your knowledge of current leftist slang is hilarious. You sound even dumber than little kids when they learn to curse.
My favorite is, "Little Lord Romney"
Of course, Santorum thinks he IS the Lord.
Seriously?! Talk about twisting the context to make it fit your agenda. Love how Santorum first pounces on Romney originally for "not caring about the poor", gets offended a day or two ago when Romney hits him back for Santorums "I don't care about the economy or unemployment", and now Santorum comes back with this? Attacking a campaign over what an advisor has said- not even the candidate but an advisor? Santorum is so desperate that this is what he has to resort to? Pathetic! Even worse- Santorum and the democratic establishment seem to be singing a lot of the same tune.
I read this comment and understood the advisor to be explaining that while things might be terse now between various members of the GOP that when it is the fall election everyone will come together and start over together with the campaign against Obama because defeating Obama is the common goal.
Exactly.
What a kicker--Santorum has very little to say about Romney, so he copies other peoples' comments. Rick you are not liked out here because of your fanatic religious views that most people don't share. Your past as a one-time senator and thieving lobbyist plus dozens of other things I've read is a sham. You go into each state and try to appeal the most uneducated so-called Christians. If you got that nomination, I would definitely get out in any weather and vote for Obama/Biden. Get lost--you are not even likeable.
Santorum is not going to win the primary.Not even his own state likes him.PA is definitley going to vote for Romney in the general election.
Don't these candidates realize that their comments are recorded and broadcast to the world? WTF! As soon as he takes a different tack on a touchy subject, everyone can refer to his previously (recoreded) comments to remind him of his (former) firm political stance. Perhaps he enjoys being referred to as a "flip flopper".
OMG! Who cares?!!!! Most men are in arrested development but you would think men running for President would be a bit more developed. Bunch of adolescents who have to get all riled up over inane comments.
Cheech! Get over yourselves!
Romney's such a fake.
I hate Santorum's positions but at least he believes in them.
yep...he knows he's a creepy scumbag...and he wears it on his sleeve...
Gotta agree with McCain. Ugliest ever.
Romney is one of the biggest idiots I have ever witnessed on TV. A bold faced liar that changes his mind to fit the current mood. I am amazed as to why anyone would vote for such an idiot.
why are you amazed... just take a look at the loser we have now pretending to be a President.
John David, you are clearly biased. We've all seen Joe Biden.
They vote for him because, let's face it, look at the others. Romney is a terrible choice to run anything, but he's the best the repubs have.
Typical Obama media buddy system making a mountain out of mole hill.
Chill out liberal media.
Justice,
I believe it is the GOP's SANTORUM making a "mountain out a molehill".
We liberals are just sitting back eating our popcorn watching the comedy show.
Frankly, (no pun intended) I'm a little worried. Americans have a very short attention span. Romney will get nomination. Get out there and vote! Do no let that nuthead even get close to winning.
REMEMBER BAIN CAPITAL. REMEMBER BAIN CAPITAL. REMEMBER BAIN CAPITAL!!!! Arise Americans. Do not let that capitalist pig get into office!! What few advances the middle class have gained will be shattered with four years of Willard.
Please give us a detailed narrative of the events committed by Romney while at Bain Capital.
U have internet service...look it up.
Frankly
You show you are only willing to make statements but don't put proof where you got your statements from telling people to look it up. If you can't point to any specifics with an article or something to back it up, it makes you look like you are spouting off...or about to go into a meltdown. Either way, it's best you actually show people where you got your info on events.
They are the gaff that keeps on giving. Etch-A-Sketch never got so much free publicity. Hope this just finally makes people wake-up that Roney is just such an empty suit. If the Republicans are dumb enough to nominate someone who believes in nothing but the power of greed and money then they have already lost in November.
since i was five i been bored with the etch a sketch so Santorum and Obama are getting desperate to the point that they use any thing
What the he** did Obama have to do with "Santorum pouncing on Romney's aide comment"?
is this like saying "there will be no red states no blue states just UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" then turning around and saying "people in the midwest states cling to their guns and bibles" ???
Well, I live right above the great state of Oklahoma and they DO cling to their guns and Bibles. I think even THEY would admit to that.
Go to Tulsa. You will not be able to believe how many churches and gun stores and billboards announcing when the next gun show is.
Gas was $1.97 per gallon when Obama became president.
I'm voting for whoever else is running
And what's Obama going to do about today's gas prices, nationalize the oil companies as if he was some kind of authoritarian-type dictator? If you could and/or would turn to other sources besides Faux News for your information, you might know and understand that commodities speculators on Wall Street and in other financial centers have more to do with the current high prices for crude oil and, by extension, gasoline than the intentions and doings of any one person, including the POTUS. Even the CEO of a major oil company wouldn't be able to manipulate the entire pricing structure of the worldwide oil market by himself.
oh brother...your fear mongering is really getting old. Manufacturing is up in U.S.. Oil exports have continually increased since 2007. GM paid back all the loans. They're still publicly owned. Give it a break
I would have liked to be in your neck of the woods, Villian. Gas was not $1.97 per gallon where I live. It was over $3. And gas prices have nothing to do with the president. It's all about the supply and demand factor, not one man saying "Well....looks like we aren't doing so hot bringing money in from this sector. So let's raise gas prices to compensate." It doesn't work that way.
Let's see................ how long was gas over $4.00 a gallon, even here in the midwest, when Dubya was in office????
Or, have we re-written history again?
Sara
If we have re-written history, can we make sure Mel Brooks did the writing? I think I prefer that than what is going on right now with the "he said this back over here at such-n-such date/time".
Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley said, "Voters can trust that Rick Santorum will say what he believes, and do what he says."
No doubt; cue the scary-movie-type 12-tone music. Also scary is the fact, backed up by the current numbers, that significant-enough elements of the Republican electorate actually want this guy/loon in a position where he has his finger on the nuclear trigger. Fortunately, not enough to get him elected or even nominated (holding my breath on the latter, actually), but still, cut to that scary music again.
Gotta love these guys - they're like the gift that keeps on giving. They have raised the level of expectations that on every day, one of them will lay something entertaining out there.
Actually, I'm expecting to hear Willard mention McCain as running mate. We will be in Syria for sure, and in Iraq and Afghanistan until hell freezes over. Vote Americans! Remember war is big, big money.
Read "Web of Deceit"
I think Santorum needs to spread the false rumor Romney is secretly married to more than one woman. If Obama is a foreign born muslim, according the the party of Christian values, I see no reason why a Mormon cannot be rumored to have more than one wife.
The Bush II campaign did something like that to McCain to help win in South Carolina- calling up GOP primary voters and asking them a poll question, "If you knew that John McCain fathered an illegitamite black child would you still vote for him?"
It worked like a charm. Dirty politics at its best.
One of the first lies out of Odumbo's mouth last election was he would use public campaign financing - took him 2 seconds to etch-a- sketch that "promise".
President Obama disagrees with the Super Pac law brought to us by the conservative Supreme Court.
That said, he is not going to roll over and play dead while your Koch Brothers try to buy themselves another election.
I support his decision to keep the fight fair by using the same weapons. I plan on continuing to donate to his campaign.