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TAMPA, FL -- Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney reined in his criticism of President Barack Obama on Wednesday, signaling a softer tone at the outset of a three-stop swing through Florida coinciding with the president's trip to New Jersey to survey hurricane damage.
Returning to the campaign trail after cancelling several campaign events out of respect to victims of Hurricane Sandy, Romney joined several prominent Florida Republicans in blending a pitch for storm recovery support with more traditional political fanfare.
In his first formal campaign event (Romney morphed one planned stop in Ohio into a "relief event" on Tuesday), Romney struck hopeful notes.
"You should know I could not be in this race if I were not an optimist. I believe in the future of this country I know we have huge challenges, but I’m not frightened by them, I’m invigorated by the challenge," Romney told supporters gathered in an airplane hangar here near the close of his remarks. "We’re going to take on these challenges we’re going to overcome them!"
As the storm cleanup begins, the Republican presidential candidate is facing questions about his position on the federal government's role in disaster relief. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
And Romney included an entreaty for donations to the Red Cross as the East Coast reels from the impact of the hurricane earlier this week. (Romney himself made a donation to the Red Cross, an aide told NBC News.)
"If you have an extra dollar or two, send them along and keep the people who are in harms – who have been in harms way, who’ve been damaged either personally or through their property, keep them in your thoughts and prayers," Romney said. "We love all of our fellow citizens. We come together in times like this and we want to make sure that they have a speedy and quick recovery from their financial and in many cases, personal loss."
Romney was joined on the trail by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the latter of whom noted that Floridians are more familiar with hurricanes than most of the nation, and urged the roughly 2,000 attendees here to pay back the generosity they have experienced after past storms.
At a campaign event in Tampa Bay, Florida, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney promotes a five-point plan for growing the economy.
"People are going to be living with the aftermath of the storm, and so our hearts and our prayers go out to them, and also our help," Rubio said. "If you see on the screen the number you can text the Red Cross and make your donation. We have been the beneficiary of these donations in the past. Let's make sure we pay it forward for our neighbors and fellow Americans up north who are suffering."
Bush, who had to handle numerous hurricanes during his time as governor, also waded into the politics of disaster relief, suggesting that local governments contributed more to recovery efforts than the federal government.
"My experience in all this emergency response business is that it is the local level and the state level that really matters," he said to applause. "That if they do their job right the federal government part works out pretty good."
Brian Snyder / Reuters
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney greets audience members at a campaign rally in Tampa, Florida October 31, 2012.
But today's event was certainly a return to the issues that have driven the campaign for the last year -- with Romney criticizing the president's stewardship of the economy indirectly, and offering his own plan in contrast.
“My view is pretty straight forward and that is I believe that this is time for America to take a different course, that this should be a turning point for our country, and I say that because I look at where we are and with 23 million Americans – you think about that. These are real people. These are folks trying to put food on the table," Romney said. "Twenty-three million people struggling to find a good job. This is something that requires in my view a different path than we’ve been on."
Reuters, Getty Images
In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.
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TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION , AND AMERICANS LEFT HOMELESS ; tell that to '' mr. polygamist '' , and his band of caring republican conservative tea party of the '' STEAL FROM THE DIRT POOR , AND GIVE IT TO WALL STREET AND THE KOCH BROTHERS ''. THEY FEEL YOUR PAIN , AND THEY KNOW ENTITLEMENTS ARE WHAT'S HURTING YOU. all you homeless and desperate people need is '' A CAN OF BEANS , LOL , LOL , LOL , haaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa heeeeeeeeeeeeeee heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it's their gift , that they want to keep on giving !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The eight states that give the largest percentage of their income to charity are Republican states and the 8 lowest are Democratic states. Republicans give with their own money while Democrats like to give with other peoples money. The Vice President gives an average of $350.00 a year, what a caring and compassionate man
You're talking about what republicans claim to have donated to charity on their tax returns. You just proved how many big fat lying republicans there are. By the way, where are Twitt's long form tax returns?
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW HE FIXES HIS FACE WHEN THE MEDIA BEGANS TO BOMBARD HIM WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM LYING ABOUT '' NOT CAMPAIGNING '' A DAY AFTER SUCH AN HORRIFIC STORM LEFT PEOPLE HOMELESS AND HURTING !!!!!!!!!!
let's do this !!!
So let me understand this. Obama is actually the president and has to come off the campaign trail to do his job.
Romney who is running for the job is suppose to stop because the president has to do his, president jas the current president.
So prior to Romney getting the official position for the GOP, Obama was not campaigning?
So Mighty Mitt is now accusing Chrysler of anti-Americanism. What's next to come out of his mouth? The CEO from Chrysler says Romney must be in "some parallel universe." Gee, the Democrats and anyone else with an ounce of sanity have been saying that about Mr. Romney all along. Keep up the good work, Mitt!
Some say Toe-Mate-Toe, some say Tow-Moto.
Chrysler is moving some production to China only those that dont follow this didnt know that. Chrysler is splitting hairs and saying they are "Not moving the whole operation."
Problem with Chrysler getting the hand caught in the cookie jar is the amount of money they have to pay back in addition if they don't keep the percentage of move out under the deal for the bail out money still owed under share repurchase. Nothing more.
Why are their no complaints against Bloomberg who wrote the article? Chrysler is building a plant in China because the tariffs on US cars going there are too high to be able to sell them so why is the President allowing the outsourcing from a company we saved
The Bloomberg article did not say Jeep was "moving all production to China" as Romney said.
No US jobs are being outsourced. Jeep is expanding in the US and upgrading US plants.
Jeep is re-opening production in China that has been shut down since before Fiat took over. It's more profitable to build in China for sales in China instead of building here and shipping them.
Romney did not say all jobs he said they were moving production to China which they are. He implied they were moving all production which he was wrong to say. My point was China has tariffs on our cars produced here so that is why it is cheaper to build them there.
Romney didn't imply - he said, "all production". He lied.
Willard's original lie:
"Mitt Romney campaigned in Defiance, Ohio, last night, and rolled out a new argument. "I saw a story today that one of the great manufacturers in this state, Jeep, now owned by the Italians, is thinking of moving all production to China," he said."
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121026/POLITICS01/210260402#ixzz2AgnGJ6oW
Chinese Tariffs are not the issue here. By law, every car company that wishes to sell vehicles in China must build them in China in a joint venture with a Chinese automaker. There is no plan or idea for the company to build Jeeps in China that would be exported back to the U.S. Chrysler maintains a huge manufacturing plant in Toledo, Ohio to build Jeeps, and Fiat has been investing in that facility and growing the employment there."
http://autos.aol.com/article/mitt-romney-auto-bailout-ad/
Romney Ryan never left the campaign trail, just slithering a bit slower, but slithering nonetheless. Disgraceful watching Romney loading a rental truck with purported donated water, come to find out supplies purchased at the local Walmart to beef up "donation" table. Not answering any questions regarding FEMA and his past stance. Can anyone imagine what would happen to the 12 states effected by Sandy if they had to go it alone? We really would turn into a third world country. We are Americans, we help each other. We are our brothers and sisters keepers. Romney is a shameless, spineless opportunist with no moral compass.
Obama 2012
TOOK OBAMA 50 DAYS TO GET TO THE BP OIL SPILL...........
Because BP lied, cite source re. 50 days, BP downplayed actual spill until remotes were sent down to inspect and then BP couldn't keep the massive spill quiet. You conveniently forgot that the President secured 60 Billion from BP to pay for clean-up and was chastised for jumping and calling out a Private Company.
Remember Joplin, record number of tornadoes, President there within days, your point is pointless.
Obama 2012
Sky,
The people of the Gulf did not lie or are you saying they do not count? Can you please cite a source for your $60B because the President was saying $20B and as of June 2, 2012 they have only paid out $6.5 billion.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/06/gulf_oil_spill_claims_process_1.htm
FactSheet: Romney charge that President Obama is somehow choking fuel productions in US. (Totally False)
Actually roughly 241 million more barrels of oil were produced during President Obama's first three years.
What are you going to dream up next Mitt the Wit?
President Obama--2012
deb,
That is on private land, on Federal land the production is about even
Jerry, why drill on "Public Lands" when it appears to be unnecessary? Why do we export oil to Mexico, Japan, Korea because......?
Obama 2012
Because the government sells leases on the lands such as the Gulf, but that is a different question. I gave the response of why oil production is up and I think Mexico is a producer of oil. I could be wrong but you might be confusing production with refining.
Jezz, Sandy was a relief for America we didn't have to listen to the political crap.
How about this? I Hate Romney's gold plated ass.
Romney just lies up a storm. This is something that Romney can't blame on President Obama. Although I imagine he's trying to come up with a "lie to blame this storm on the President. Never in all my years have I seen such a bald faced liar as Romney.
Come on Mitt... we miss you slinging your @!$%#t!
If you want to see a real President in action listen to the speeches given by Governor Chris Christie and President Barack Obama in the middle of a devastated beach town in New Jersey. This is real leadership by leaders committed to the people that elected them. The President's message was very clear. Without FEMA and the resources of the federal government, the citizens of New Jersey would be in dire jeopardy. Kudos to Governor Christie for his leadership and relentless efforts on behalf of the citizens of New Jersey!
Let me get this straight.
Willard and his idiot campaign staff of thousands, can't read the Red Cross site to see that they ask for cash and blood donations...not a van full of stuff from Walmart? Not one of those morons could manage that?
What the hell did Willard DO in Massachusetts? I'm sure they had some natural disasters there during his tenure...why doesn't he know the procedure???
Obama has had it posted on his website since before the storm hit.
Meanwhile, this lying prick's contribution when Americans are suffering is to parade around calling for FEMA to be dismantled and privatized?
Unreal that this lying incompetent has supporters. He's the most disgusting individual I've seen running for office...and that's something considering Nixon, Palin and GW Bush.
Republican Americans really are stuck-on-stupid.
Can't have a phony photo op with internet donations.
NBC There you go again!!!!!!!!!!!! Willard easing back into campaigning!!!!!! Just to let you Know, he never quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Phoney Adds being run that claims Jeep is taking American Jobs to China!!!!!!!!! You should have hit Willard on it the minute that came out of his mouth!!!!!!!!!!! The old broken down Magical Willard a member of a Cult based on Magic and Sex can not think of anything orginal, so he twist the stories around and around!!!
Willard is not Presidential and he never WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Willard's father George was born in Mexico, so when he tried to run, he was not an American citizen!!!!!!!!!!! Grandfather Miles had been stripped of his citizenship!!!!!!!!!!!! Miles was chased by the U. S. Marshall's all the way to the Mexican border.
The only reason they did not get him, was he was dressed in a disguise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That really sounds familiar!!!!!!!!!!!! Willard basically tries to look Presidential, but when he takes his disquise off, what we have is a Old Greedy Cult Member who is going down hill Fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
America will never be the same after four years of ROMNEY/RYAN!!
This is the Republican Party Today!!!
Romney/Ryan funded by the Kock Brothers "Propaganda Machine"
Kock Brothers "PROPAGANDA MACHINE" THE 3%
The Republican Reformist Party!!
Romney/Ryan are the founder and leader of the Republican Reformist Party!! and the most influential voice in the organization, the systematic extermination of the belief in America!! and the destruction of 50% of the American population by all means!!! Including the 47% who have no VOICE in POLITICS!!
BUSH REBORN
LIE, “We’re worse off than 4 yrs ago. “ Economic growth 2009: 4.6% negative. 2012: 2.3%. Autos, Banks, Housing, Consumer Confidence, others on the upswing.
LIE, I’ll balance the Budget. Bush Era will be a picnic compared with Romneynomics: lower the Rich Tax to Bush levels: Loss, of $500Bill/yr. Hike Defense to war levels, $2Trill (just like Bush). Explode the Debt and sink us the way of Greece. Mega-borrow from China. BUSH REBORN.
Americas problems started August 1971!!
These are things Republicans don't want you to remember!!
With inflation unresolved by August 1971, and an election year looming, Nixon convened a summit of his economic advisers at Camp David. He then announced temporary wage and price controls, allowed the dollar to float against other currencies, and ended the convertibility of the dollar into gold. OUR MONEY IS WORTHLESS!! Only the Full faith and credit of the U.S.A.!!
Thanks Nixon!!
Then Reagan come along!!
The first signs of impending trouble are the exploding budget deficits themselves. They began, of course, under the parlous economic stewardship of Ronald Reagan. Reagan cut the marginal tax rate on the wealthiest of Americans from 70% to 38%. He promised it would spur an orgy of investment and rocket the economy to new levels of production and prosperity. Instead, his supply side economics did the exact opposite. It produced the deepest recession since the Great Depression.
LOST REVENUE!!!
Bush blew through Clinton's surplus in his first year. The 2004 deficit reached $415 billion, a record. Still, its real size is masked by the fact that Bush has shifted $150 billion from the Social Security trust fund in order to make the shortfall look smaller. It's like pretending you're richer when you move money from one pocket to another. Both sums have to be repaid, so the real amount borrowed is the $415 billion nominal deficit plus the $150 billion from Social Security or $565 billion. This is why Bush lost his Presidency!!
The Congress owes SOCIAL SECURITY $565,000,000,000
BUSH WAS THE SAME AS ROMNEY!! SAY ANYTHING!! AND SCREW THE MIDDLE CLASS!!
700,000 JOBS WERE BEING LOST UNDER BUSH!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 4 for 44
AJ..... Who in the world is putting all this nonsense in your head? Do you realize that anyone who wanted to spend the time could come up with a thousand things the Dem Presidents did just as well. I could remind you for instance that it was President Kennedy that got us mired down in the Viet Nam war that killed 53,000 Americans, but I wont.
Romney's still trying to figure out what that stuff in cans was, that he gave out yesterday. Take about dimwit....canned food and no electricity....hmmmmm wonder how they'll open it??? Romney you are making Sarah Palin seem like a genius.
What the heck is wrong with Romney, doesn't he see that people across the north east are suffering, doesn't he know that some of those people have lost everything including loved ones. He has no feelings for the, he has no consideration for them, My daughter is in New Jersey, I haven't heard from her, I have a call into the red cross, its as good as I can do. Damn Romney,how can he campaign when so many people are suffering. Just think of what it will be like if he becomes president, then it will be, EVERYONE FOR THEMSELVES, while our millionairs, laugh all the way to the bank,with their tax breaks, that could help out the folks up north.
The President who is the person in charge not Romney is off to Las Vegas tonight, and you do not have a problem with that? Your complaints should be against the government not the person running.
This is the Republican Party Today!!!
Romney/Ryan funded by the Kock Brothers "Propaganda Machine"
Kock Brothers "PROPAGANDA MACHINE" THE 3%
The Republican Reformist Party!!
Romney/Ryan are the founder and leader of the Republican Reformist Party!! and the most influential voice in the organization, the systematic extermination of the belief in America!! and the destruction of 50% of the American population by all means!!! Including the 47% who have no VOICE in POLITICS!!
VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN 4 for 44
AJ----- Ok- Obama belonged to the American Socialist Party and studied Islam also.
"Stand Down"
Like it or not... Obama will benefit from this storm.
Obama = 1
Numbnutz = 0
LG.... I dont like it but Im afraid your right.
us... The GOP has to get their sh*tt together. Its not just the storm... I would love to see a better presidential candidate on both sides.
This election is over... Romney can't compete with what will happen in the next 7 days. Americans sticking together without regard for political persuasion.
Its over....
Funny, I just talked to a relative on the east coast and Libya did not come up as a concern. Much concern about the folks without electricity, the deaths from the storm, destroyed homes.....nothing came up about Libya. I would think folks working in Libya would know it is a very dangerous place, diplomates over the years have lost their lives regardless of who was President. Should there have been more protection, was mistakes made, I think this well all come out in good time. President Obama did not kill these people and everyone was devastated by the loss. He and Hillary were there to meet the people that had lost their lives when they came home in caskets. Knowing Obama's work ethic he was aware of what was going on as much as possible in a volatile situation. Obama has worked hard for this Nation, you may not agree with his politics, thats OK, but remember it was under his watch a lot of good has happened. If your a Obama hater, nothing well change your mind, and you will vote against your best interests and vote for a weak candidate like Romney. That is too bad for America. But Fox and Obama haters need to let Libya go and report on the suffering of our friends and family hurt by the storm.
mgm.......You would do well to talk to Tyrone woods( one of the ex seal that was killed) father. He was there also when the bodies were brought home. You will learn the real story of how sorry Obama, Biden and Hillary are. The first thing gaff Biden said to Mr Woods was "your son must have balls the size of Q balls" and laughed. Your guy.
Stand Down
Break time, woohoo, more liberal BS. That said, before I get bashed for my vote not counting anyway, sad but true. I'm an oddity in Southern California, a small business owner HOPING after this election I am still allowed to sell all our nasty LEGAL guns to all us LEGAL gun loving Republicans.
A few fun responses: Why do we need to drill on public lands? Oh I don't know... jobs, energy independence kinda sounds good to me.
Why we don't like Obama? This total BS that we are all racists is a cop out Democrats like to throw out there when they can't defend this joke of a President any other way. I could care less if he is white,black, or purple with pink polka dots... NO ONE is gonna tell me I have to pay for some stupid females bad decisions. You don't want kids yet, fine keep your legs shut or pay for your own birth control. Certainly do not expect ME to pay for you to end a life.
DNC media and supporter release today was to please refer to Romney Campaign workers and supporters as "Anti-Obama activists". That old psych game...
Remember 8.2 is the new acceptable unemployment norm.
What an insincere douche bag !
Romney was never not politicking.
"Relief rally" in Ohio my *ss !! WTF ? That is the #1 most self-servingly political move Romney could've made.
That was for HIS campaign first and foremost.
He must think the people of Ohio are mighty gullible. Who didn't see write through that ? I mean,...duh ?
He is a bigger douche bag than you think.It is all over the web:Romney staged the Ohio so called relief rally.Romney and his staffers went to Walmart on Monday and bought $5,000 worth of canned goods etc. because they thought they wouldn't have enough for the camera's and the photo op !! A little boy and his mother showed up with no food and a volunteer pointed to the stuff that was bought and told them to take one and give it to Romney-Unbelievable !!! You can easily find it anywhere,just google romney's staff bought $5,000 in food at Walmart.
Well fake Maria man in the basement person... Romney turned over his contributions to his campaign and told his supporters to give to the relief effort instead of his campaign, and he is turning over donations from his remaining fund raisers. Obama who still has far more campaign contributions is now going out on the campaign trail to raise more money in the next week, and is still selling lottery tickets at $1000 a pop to his post election party. The money Romney used was direct contributions from the day. Good luck with the truth man honey.
This is a farce of an article. Typical fat red head to respond and 92 followers...Obama has been campaigning for 4 years!!
People of Ohio were coming out today waking up and figuring things out. They finally are starting to realize they got severly short changed on the GM money laundering profit pocket lying scheme, and the house of GM cards is going to cave in about the same time Obama clamps down on oil and coal and shuts the state down. About time Ohio, but good job figuring it out finally.
Sandy has given willard a real conundrum to deal with that has stolen all his momentum and will likely cost him the election:
he can't personally attack the Chief Executive with ads or on the stump in the middle of a national crisis (looks slimy and cheap)
hardcore republicans like Gov Christie are singing Obama's praises for his quick reaction to the storm damage, (unlike bush after Katrina)
and so willard has to just stand by and spout the usual political bs while President Obama gets all the press.
Let's face it willard - Sandy is a crisis ... Obama's the President ... and you're NOT.
:D