Romney Admits Democratic Attacks are Hurting Him

Romney Admits Democratic Attacks are Hurting Him

Mitt Romney is still preparing his speech at an elementary school near his vacation home in Wolfeboro, N.H., but he's already giving hints about what he will say Thursday night when he accepts the GOP nomination at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

In an interview with USA Today’s Susan Page, Romney says his wife, Ann, will offer a glimpse of his personal side to voters in her convention speech. But when he takes the stage, it will be all business.

"We won't be talking about my life," Romney tells USA Today. "We'll be talking about policy."

It's a notable choice even as Romney bluntly acknowledges in both the USA Today interview and in a separate interview with Politico that some voters just don't like him. He accuses President Barack Obama and his allies of "personal vilification and demonization"–and admits their attacks have been effective.

"There are plenty of weaknesses that I have, and I acknowledge that," Romney tells USA Today. "But the attacks that have come have been so misguided, have been so far off target, have been so dishonest, that they surprised me. I thought they might go after me on things that were accurate that I've done wrong, instead of absurd things."

Among the examples Romney cites: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's claims that he hadn't paid personal taxes in a decade, which the GOP candidate described as "ridiculous."

But while Romney assailed the Obama campaign for its attacks, the presumptive Republican nominee has grown more aggressive on the trail in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, he slammed Obama for running a campaign based on “division and anger and hate.”  He's accused Obama of trying to undo historic welfare reforms requiring recipients to work and of using Medicare funds to pay for the so-called “Obamacare”.

"I think in the final analysis, people will recognize those attacks for what they are, and they'll make a decision based on who can do a better job creating jobs and providing more take-home pay for the middle class of America," Romney told USA Today. "I believe I am that person."

Posted by James Fried on Tuesday August 28 2012, 1:50 AM EDT. Ref: CNN. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Nation. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0