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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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If Mitt Romney was any kind of leader, he would have traveled to NJ as well. He works well with the other party. I don't see this. Sandy is not about Demo or Rep, it is people first. But he never attempt to go there to see. This man is absolutely pathetic. States do not have money to handle this on their own. If they can, then they do not I repeat need money from the government for anything, grants, etc. This man will kill America.
There are no electoral votes to be gained....almost every state affected is solidly Democrat...that's why he stayed in Ohio to look like he's compassionate and magnanimous and sympathetic for the folks - and the CAMERAS - in OHIO! You're right - and he's wrong - about FEMA and the states being able to handle these kinds of disasters. They don't have the money, there would be conflicts across state borders, one state would be better able to pay than another, and so on. There really is a reason we call this country the UNITED States of America.
and if obama was any kind of leader... any kind at all... he would clear up the Benghazi tragedy... seriously man just tell those parents the truth... it may cost you the presidency .... but for heavens sake do the right thing... the parents go to sleep at night wondering why our government didn't come to their sons aid ... these men were heroes and their parents deserve answers...
All the righties who are screaming about Benghazi (and not giving the time to let the investigation play out) are the same people who suddenly have amnesia when you say "what about Bush and Cheney lying us into a war that killed over 4000 of our military and another 30000 wounded and maimed?" They never heard of Bush, Cheney or Iraq; but, they sure know that those WMD's were there!!!
release the tapes lefties and then all of America can hear and see what happened that evening... what do you have to hide.. who says that I think Bush did the right thing... but that doesn't excuse what Obama and his group are doing... 2 wrongs don't make a right ... release the tapes... quit making excusing... and do the right thing... you were not a good president for the past 4 years... be one now... let these parents know why you didn't come to their sons aid...
Confident Woman: He's not a leader. He's a candidate, and would have had no business visiting any ravaged state after the storm.
rhonda-1503187: Nobody here is buying your paranoid rant about Libya. God only knows what a total cock-up a slimy weasel like Romney would've made of it if he were President. Anyone with an IQ in triple digits (which, sadly, lets you out), knows that his first calculation, as always, would've been, "How will this affect my re-election campaign?" So come down off your high horse.
Sueb1: You go, girl!
acoustic... and no one is buying your presidents lies.... I mean it's about a video... it's not about a video... it's a terrorist attack... no wait a minute it's not... it depends on what the word terroist is... Bill Clinton sound alike... I voted for him... my bad.... sounds like you lefties will do anything to get him re-elected ... even defend his lies and his lack of skills in leading the country.... so your rants about a president that didn't do a good job for our country mean nothing to me....
I'd rather take Obama and Clinton over Romney and Bush!!! And if our posts mean nothing to you, why do you waste your time here? No place else to go since Fox shut down its message boards?
It's time to come together and work as one nation especially during this difficult crises after a horrible storm.
I read this news item just this morning:
After months of buildup leading to the presidential election in November, 4-year-old Abigael Evans has had enough.
The Fort Collins, Colo., girl broke down in tears after listening to yet another report on the radio about the race between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, a local NBC TV station reported.
"I'm tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney," said the sobbing girl, who lives in a battleground state.
She's probably not the only one.
Let keep it low this time
Life goes on, politics goes on and 4 year olds will get over it....kind of a lame story.
As if yesterday's pathetically transparent "relief rally" wasn't politicking!! OMG, how stupid have we become. He didn't break a sweat lifting two or three packages of something for the truck - and there were camera outside and INSIDE the truck getting his every magnanimous move on tape... If it had really been about relief and charity and compassion, he would have ordered the cameras to stay away and done it privately. Almost...ALMOST as pathetic as Paul Lyin's charade as a do-gooder barging into that food kitchen where the day was over, the work was done, the workers ready to go home AND THE POTS AND PANS WERE CLEAN! And he forced himself in along with his superficial wife and his poor bewildered kids to wash the POTS AND PANS again ---great photo opportunity!!! Doing nothing for no one with no one but cameras in the room! What a useless shallow tool of a person he is - - his poor kids got a great lesson in life....it doesn't really matter if you help other people just as long as it LOOKS that way!
If he did nothing, you would be say "why didn't Romney do anything?" Now that's pathetically cretinous of you.
Potlicking! Potlicking! That just isn't right. A grown man should not go around licking pots. With his money, he needs to seek help......
Oh! Politicking..... never mind.
Sincerely, Rosanne Rosannadanna.
"No more violins on television"
Hey! Does Gilda know you've appropriated (the Republican euphemism for "steal") her moniker?
“My view is pretty straight forward and that is I believe that this is time for America to take a different course,..."
We know, Willard, 'no more FEMA...send it back to the states or better yet, privatize it,' to paraphrase. Tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and Medicare with vouchers?! And privatize Social Security?
The next big and even more destructive storm may be Hurricane Willard (don't think they have used the name 'Willard' yet.
Privatize the asseta and socialize the liabilities...like Bain Capital.
What the heck is wrong with you NBC. Your politics section has nine - count-em - nine articles about Romney/Ryan. Not even a mention of both Chrysler's and GM's comments about Romneys lies in the Jeep ad. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Because there are ZERO lies in the ad. Even Chuck Todd said it was all factual. He did say that the ad inferred that Jeep was moving all it's probation to China. So you have to put words in Romney's mouth to to say he said ALL production is moving to China. Find me a quote where Romney said that.
Typical liberal way of looking at things (DISTORTED).
There will never be a "perfect" candidate. Because those that qualify wouldn't touch it with a 40 foot pole!! Why would they? They are just offering themselves up to ridicule, criticism and relentless scrutiny.
However, I do appreciate the fact that Mr. Romney is a respectful and moral individual. I like the fact that he commands respect. He shows high moral standards and compassion. Something that I have not seen from our current president. You can't fix the problems that face this country by making comedic remarks or appearing on late night TV.
Vote Romney/Ryan because you believe in America!!
Romney shows high morals? He lies every time he opens his mouth. Why is the right giving Romney a pass on all the dishonesty? I don't know how you were raised; but, I was taught that you're only as good as your word...Romney's word is worth absolutely nothing.
He is NO liar. He has the same rights as you and I to change his mind. All of us do that.
He has something that your candidate has never posessed, morals. That's why I will vote for him.
Excuse me..........that's why I DID vote for him!
You win funniest post of the day!!! He is no liar, he just changes his mind....a LOT!!!! Like everytime he opens his mouth and I've been following him for a long time, I live in Massachusetts----where he lied about his record! And, dimples, if you don't remember whether or not you voted...it explains why you don't think Romney lies, you don't remember them!!!
Don't be so hard on Mitt. FAKING is the name of his game, and the crisis of Sandy requires genuine thinking and emotion. The best he can do is collect canned soup -- even LYING about that, saying it's a relief effort. It's a campaign event-- everyone knows that, but Mitt can't even tell the truth about that. It boggles the mind that anyone in this country would believe a word that comes out of that man's mouth -- or the GOP's, as they are most certainly behind some of these ridiculous ads. They all stink of desperation and, thankfully, we have just a few more days of Mitt's and the GOP's stink. It's hard to understand how people who claim to be so "close to God" are such habitual liars.
For those of you who are disalusioned by Obama. Can you hear the echos of "STAND DOWN!" blowing past you, in the wind?
I'm surprised you can hear anything at all with all those right-wing voices in your head.
ROMNEY: Scrap FEMA! Let New Jersey go bankrupt! Screw the 47!
MARIE ANTOINETTE: Some of the 47 can't afford bread? So? Let them eat cake.
The SLUG is a SHAM. 6 TRILLION DOLLARS of over spending and I hope his POCKETS ARE FULL to pay for the EXTRA SPENDING. ROMPPY DO NOT COME CRYING TO AMERICA LIKE THE LAST TIME with BUSH and all the REPUKES.
Why won't MSNBC report on the latest developments regarding the terrorist attack in Benghazi? Hillary Clinton addressed it over a week ago. Leon Panetta admitted to telling our forces to stand down. I'm getting my information directly from our Secretary of State and our Secretary of defense, so before all you brilliant libs who have a problem with "the right wing media" try to tell me Fox News is full of it, understand this failed administration is where I'm getting this from. Why won't the media report on what's going on? It's disgusting that you're not even smart enough to have a position on it. Hillary Clinton addressed this over a week ago. I heard her, but not a peep out of you left wing "reporters". Panetta is on the record. Not you "journalists". I guess I shouldn't expect any more form the network that doctored the 911 tape in the Tayvon Martin case. Hey, aren't you also the network that rigged GM trucks to explode and appear unsafe on Dateline when they wouldn't blow up themselves and ruined the story that had written without getting the facts? Yeah. You are. Shame on you for calling yourselves journalists. Report the news and let people decide for themselves.
And I bet you watch Fox.
And I'll bet you watch MSNBC!
Hey Jamie, if you bother to read, I knew you'd resort to that instead of supporting facts. I got this from Hillary and Panetta. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Outside of course where you won't bother anyone.
Is Andrea Mitchell Obama's press secretary... because she sure isn't a fair and balanced news reporter... shame ... shame... just another small news reporter that lost her way during this presidential election... several media legacies will be lost during this campaign ... it's ok to have a preference on who you want elected... it's not ok to publish your opinions as news and not to stick to the facts... she so worried about Romney passing out supplies to the victims of Sandy... a true reporter would be worried about a president that pushed aside 4 American deaths and his White House should have prevented them...
BOY the RIGHT WINGY DINGYS are out for HOLLOWEEN just like the CLOWN MAN. You all deserve CONCRETE BLOCKS for the TREAT
I can't believe not one of you libs can make an argument. Try stating a fact or opinion with something other than caps lock.
TomLaV
Maybe we just don't think your paranoid, baseless and reactionary accusations are worth responding to.
Alain.........."Stand Down!"
please explain to me who this stand down order was given to?
Who did Woods and Doherty work for.
Who was their commanding officer?
What do YOU really KNOW about the Benghazi attack?
I know that Panetta was the one who told the SEALS and who knows who else to stand down. Woods and Doherty work for the people of United States of America and apparently thought it was their duty to intervene. Are you denying they requested help? Are you denying the administration knew that? What do you know? Do you know our president was informed that this was a terrorist attack during the over 7 hours it went on while our people were dying? Do you know that in the now infamous rose garden speech the president only referred to 9/11/01 as a terrorist attack and blamed this on a video that had nothing to do with it? Do you know anything? How about this: Why won't MSNBC address it? Probably because the have no substantiating argument. Why don't you state some facts and educate me instead of asking questions if you're so smart.
TomLaV - no answers eh, so what is it, you regurgitate fox news and expect any of us to believe any of it!?
I have done as much digging as I can and have found little to no real information regarding the attack. All we are left with is speculation and innuendo.
You know it was Panetta who told the seals to stand down. How do you know this?
You don't even know who Doherty and Woods worked for, they definitely were not military personnel. From what I can make out they worked for a company called Academi, formerly known as Blackwater - but even this is speculation.
Yes, there is a whole lot more to this story, but it sure as heck is not the story fox news is feeding us.
Marginalized, I hope you also don't believe the story MSNBC told and then went silent on Benghazi.
The military serves at the will of the President and his "Vision" for a kinder, warm and fuzz relationship with the Arab world. How F’in naive. One thing for sure Obmable is not fit to be commander in chief!
Bartman, I can think for myself, don't need fox news or MSNBC to do it for me.
Breitbart and Fox engage in speculation and innuendo. I'm not buying their version.
I patiently await the facts - the truth regarding Benghazi.
Obama is solving problems and Romney is campaigning. Figures.
What problem is Obama solving, other than flying over New Jersey and looking at the disaster? Obama started his campaign the minute he took office in 2008!
which is two years later than Mitt started....c'mon Lloyd....step away from FOX news and take a deep breath....
Even I could fly over and say "wow, it's bad, whatever you need, I'll be sure to have the American people pay for this".
t3save - you could, but you wouldn't be the president now would you?
And you wouldn't be working towards helping the effort either - now would you?
And I would make damn sure I wouldn't say "we don't leave Americans" behind given his track record! Just ask the 4 dead Americans families.
While explaining the resilience of the American spirit and the rescue efforts, Obama assured all Americans that “we leave nobody behind.” That’s ironic, considering the administration’s latest entanglement revolves on someone within the administration (and now maybe the White House) denying requests for backup during the Libya attack.
“But America is tougher, and we’re tougher because we pull together,” Obama said while at Red Cross headquarters. “We leave nobody behind. We make sure that we respond as a nation and remind ourselves that whenever an American is in need, all of us stand together to make sure that we’re providing the help that’s necessary.”
://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc/49612724#49612724
Obama is doing what he is suppose to do in a disaster. But that doesn't excuse him and his administration blatantly ignoring calls for help in Benghazi. In the White house situation room, his administration sits by and watches as terrorists try to kill 30+ Americans. Refusing 2 requests by the Seals to go to the embassy to help. The Seals couldn’t wait any longer and disobeyed orders and went in. They save 30+ people but couldn’t find the Ambassador. The seals had a laser pointed at the mortar team and was calling for an strike but Obama’s team hadn’t sent air support. If they would have sent an C130 gunship, which wouldn’t be in harm’s way, when this started the Seals wouldn’t be dead!!! If they let the Seals go over right away the ambassador might not be dead!! If they heeded the multiple requests for more security before the attack they would have had a fighting chance!!! Failure after failure after failure. Obama and his flunkies need to be trial for murder and dereliction of duty. Commander in chief my A**.
Isn't it funny to read how the liberals call Romney and Ryan liars when it is becoming increasingly clear that this administration is orchestrating one of the biggest cover-ups since Watergate!!! It's simply AMAZING how the MASSACRE of one of our Ambassadors got swept under the rug as quickly and efficiently by the mainstream media.
WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE!
where is the outrage ??? Sounds like you have the market cornered on that one Lloyd......
Lloyd,
You know that ANY outrage and ANY disagreement with the president will automtically result in a label of "racist", "bigot" and possibly even "homophobe" (although it's entirely unrelated). That's what you ARE and what you SHOULD BE labeled as if you disagree with any minority, liberal or homosexual.
The only outrage I feel is for all of you mindless Obama-haters, who have nothing better to do than come up with one lunatic conspiracy theory after another. Considering the tripe slung around by your so-called "media," I guess it's no surprise that you have no clue about what's really going on. Still, it would be nice if you could come up with more than just half-baked, hare-brained, hate-driven garbage, just for a change.
Oh, and BTW, Rob-1647498, justify your hatred in any way that helps you sleep at night, but we both know that if the President was white, we would not be having this conversation and this election wouldn't even be close.
its strange, Lloyd has no clue as to what went down in Benghazi, yet he is filled with outrage.
Lets see, the ambassador was not massacred, he was found alive and later died from asphyxiation/smoke inhalation.
When American support troops arrived, a 2nd assault was made, killing two civilian contractors, contractors who worked for a Blackwater type outfit. To date, we have not heard who these guys worked for and what their mission in Benghazi was.
The reality of Benghazi is this, there was an assault on the diplomatic mission, two people had died, the attackers then set up an ambush, when American troops arrived to help, the 2nd attack took place, a direct hit by a mortar killed Doherty and Woods. One can only speculate as to how many American lives may have been lost if an all out battle had taken place.
Sadly, when you sign up as private security for a Blackwater type firm, you are no longer under military jurisdiction. We saw what happened in Iraq with Blackwater.
Taken in context, one can understand the hesitation to engage or order a stand down.
Thanks for clarifying being massacred vs. being asphyxiated by muslim terrorists. I feel better now.
massacred is your word Lloyd - yes, our Ambassador was 'murdered by Muslim terrorists' - lets stick to the facts.
Lets not act dumb and pretend words don't carry power or emotion, especially if the wrong word is deliberately used to incite.
The "biggest cover up since Watergate" -- Lloyd, you must be 5 years old. How about the GOPs lies about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? There's a LONG list of cover-ups by Republican presidents STARTING with Watergate. Reagan, Bush, Sr. Bush, Jr. The only GOP president who didn't have a cover-up was Gerald Ford, and he served a mere 18 months or so. If you are going to make such ridiculous claims, you should brush up on your American history. Of course, since you are a Romney supporter -- telling the truth is not really an issue, now is it?
more lies!!!!
://obamalies.net/list-of-lies
And of course we know that any link provided by this chowderhead will be totally unbiased and objective, right? When you're done reading his recommended reactionary spew, here's another similarly truthful and unbiased website you might want to look at. It's totally truthful...honest!
http://www.barackobamaisadirtyrottensobwhowantstomurderourchildenandrapeourwomenandmakeusallwearburkasandhassoldusouttoalqaida.com
To Liberals...
1: Obama is doing what a President should do and Romney is doing what a man running against the President should do in a case like this.
2: This election is about much more than one crisis. It is about 4 more years and the whole nation.
3: Condi Rice Does seem to agree that Obama did not lie about Benghazi. But of course she herself is also the source of almost all of Bushes Foreign affairs problems. Lets not forget for all those who now seem to think that her words mean something that 5 years ago she was reviled and hated for her deceptions. As a Conservative Republican I have no more use for Rice than I did for Rumsfeld.
4: Of course Romney is easing back into campaigning. The rest of the country is doing just fine thank god and our elections are just around the corner. When McCain suggested that the campaign be halted for a much smaller crisis both sides thought him moronic.
5: The GOP does want to cut funding to FEMA but only because FEMA's budget has swollen and monies dont get to the state level without too much red tape. Katrina is a good example. That was the first major disaster where FEMA was in direct control and they failed miserably, mismanaged money and still are answering for those failures. Had FEMA done what it was created to do, come on site and manage the crisis rather than manage the bureaucracy of the Federal Government then all would have been well. And Second, right now, FEMA's usefulness in New York and New Jersey is limited. When the flood waters recede local authorities will do most of the work while FEMA stands back and issues checks.
Candle---- Very well put. You obviously pay attention. I personally think Obama and Romney both handeled the Sandy tradgedy very well in thier respective capacities. However, I for one will not take my eye off the ball. Obama is still a Socialist bent on bringing this country to it's knees. IMO
I can't wait until Nov 7th. Then the boards will be filled with Obama cry babies complying that he lost.
And I will thoroughly enjoy seeing you eat crow when he wins.
complying that he lost? What does that even mean?
Hey, what happened to Benghazi? As far as I know, pres. Obama doesn't care about the American people but only about his own interests; otherwise, he would have done something for the American people that asked for help and whose life was in danger in Benghazi. Please, do research on Romney. He's donated a lot of his time, and money to help other people throughout the years. This is something that he likes to do and what he IS, a good-hearted soul, not the mask Obama wears. As far as Sandy, Obama is doing what he should be doing. He is the president! What a great opportunity to try to redeem yourself, Mr. President! That doesn't mean that he isn't doing this for the elections because he also is. Let's stop being hypocrites!
Fine. You go first.
Romney's latest flip (or is it a flop?): The states should take care of their own catastrophes, the Federal government should not get involved. Strange how this comes along just after Governor Christie praised the President for his sincere and non-political bipartisanship in dealing with Superstorm Sandy.
Romney, on the other hand, never stopped campaigning, phony baloney "relief rallies" notwithstanding. In the same way he turned Libya into a political issue, he has now begun exploiting the milions of Americans who lost everything to the storm, strictly to further his personal political agenda.
Romney is an incorrigible liar and a man without an ideology. Are we so foolish as to believe that this political chameleon would not try to pull the same sleight-of-hand on issues as President? One can only hope not.
Obama/Biden in 2012
This Hurricane proves what President Obama has been stating in that we need to invest in America. We need to invest in our infrastructure. America, in order for this to happen we must vote for President Obama.
Obama/Biden 2012
Romney even had trouble remembering the name of the town where the food was being sent to. Can this guy be for real?
tusand.......Kinda like Biden didnt know what state he was campaigning in aaaaand, Romney is going to cut 600 trillion dollars in taxes. Happy days!
usunderattack Can't you see we will head right back to the Bush years. The only thing republicans care about are money and large corporations to give them the money. How does not having health care protect you when you do not have a job and you lose your coverage? Why should the banks be able to do anything they want? Its our money, the states get the financial emergency aid through state taxes and federal aid, without federal aid to the states do you realize how high of taxes we would have to pay to get the aftermath of a disaster cleaned up? If the state ran out of funds, people would have to deal with it I guess.
Christie is singing a different tune about Obama now just like the hypocrit he and the other republicans are. Now would be the time for him to put his money where his mouth is and decline any federal assistance for N.J.
Why do you just shut up for once. He's doing his job you moron. Any plan to "get rid" of FEMA would not happen over night. Local governments handle local problems better than the federal government.
Now is the perfect opportunity for Romney, Christie and other supporters to show exactly what things would be like under Romney. Let Christie decline Federal Assistance to show that republicans have the answers and I have heard several clips of what Romney said which is to make FEMA private. How will they make a profit off a disaster. This is the perfect time to show all.
Excuse me here, but the President made first contact.