(CNN) – Team Romney sought to refute an attack ad from the Democratic National Committee on Monday by painting the former Massachusetts governor as the right choice to what they call President Barack Obama's wrong choice for America.
In a conference call with reporters, former presidential candidate and Romney supporter Tim Pawlenty said Democrats and the Obama campaign are zeroing in on Romney in an effort to tear the frontrunner down before the general election.
"It's a reflection of Mitt's strength and a reflection of how worried they are about the prospect of facing him in a general election," Pawlenty said Monday.
The DNC commercial, which will run on TV in New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin, portrays Romney as a political flip-flopper, wavering on issues including abortion and health care.
But Pawlenty characterized the attacks as a deflection from the president's record on jobs, government spending, the deficit and taxes.
"[Obama is] ill-prepared, stumbling, bumbling, ineffective, rivaling Jimmy Carter I think in that dismal list," Pawlenty said referencing the former one-term Democratic president.
The national conference call was one of 12 sponsored by the campaign on Monday to "respond and pre-but what the Democrats are doing," Romney Communications Director Gail Gitcho said. "We're not going to sit back and not respond."
Romney, the largely consistent leader in the 2012 GOP primary contest, has received the brunt of the Democratic attacks attempting to poke holes in the former executive's record.
Playing the role of campaign spokesman, Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor who dropped his bid for the GOP nomination in August, highlighted Romney's tenure as governor and experience in the private sector. He also downplayed the importance of rival candidate Newt Gingrich's endorsement from the "New Hampshire Union Leader" editorial board Sunday.
"Every candidate is going to get their share of endorsements," Pawlenty said, before touting Romney backers in the first-in-the-nation primary state, including former Gov. John Sununu, former Sen. Judd Gregg and Sen. Kelly Ayotte. "He'll [Romney] get his fair share."
Also see:
Bachmann says NBC president should have apologized for rude song
Bill Clinton says Gingrich surge a result of thoughtful positions
Huntsman says Union Leader endorsement highlights 'fluidity' of race
Cain: Confusion has led to drop in support
From CNN Politics
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not as much "worried," as the DEMS know they can rule out all of the other fools going after the nomination! and why not start early on the eventual nominee? OBAMA 2012!
WuuuHahahahahahaha, Gov Polenta has an opinion. Is that the guy that nobody noticed when he tried to run for the WH? Must be. What's his name again? Mitt's strength??? LIke the 24% of GOP approval he musters? Wow, aren't we all impressed. I can see the leader of the free world shaking in his golf shoes. Mitt, you're an ok guy, but look for better supporters....
Pawlenty has no credibility here in Minnesota, so I would respectfully advise against taking this as a meaningful comment. In fact, the latest anti-Romney ads appear quite innocuous compared to the hateful bile and vitriol that the GOP leadership has been continuously broadcasting about Obama since he won the election. If nasty ads are a signal that a political party is worried or running scared, the GOP "leadership" must be among the most scared and fearful folks on earth.
Blatant lies? Very hard to not respond to that.
Someone refresh my memory; when was T-Pawl ever correct about anything?
"Romney, the largely consistent leader in the 2012 GOP primary contest, has received the brunt of the Democratic attacks attempting to poke holes in the former executive's record."
Yeah, CNN. Keep pushing Mitt's leader-board consistency ... all 20% of it. Pretty hard trying to dredge up Romney supporters, yes? Oh, that's right, the real basis of this article is about Pawlenty and his support of Romney. Good luck getting Tim to carry the water bucket for any length of time, Mitt. Timmy's not a real go-getter, all things said.
This episode of 'Down the Rabbit Hole" brought to you by pathological confirmation bias and delusions of grandeur. Sit Ubu, sit....good dog.
I believe the Republicans are worried. Romney's camp put out a misleading ad about Obama and he says he stands by it. This guy is stiff as a board and will not beat Obama. Hell, he can't even get his own party to line up behind him. When he has Newt on his heels, with the political and personal baggage he has, he should be worried. I do know this, I'm not voting for him or any of the weak Republican presidential candidates. They are all out of touch with the American people.
Got two words for you Mitt. They can't be typed here, but place a verb in front of a pronoun, and you get the gest.
Romney should worry about Newt, not President Obama. Romney will never win in the South. We don't like flip-floppers that talk out of both sides of their mouths.
who is pawlenty to make such call, with the stupdor, and exclusive club the gop runs, obama should win by a landslide, most gop hide behind lapel flags and crosses, without true patriotism or christ like compassion, to date congress does what is call insider trading with privy info on both sides as a body, martha stewart went to jail for the sos
I'm sure the Dem's are worried. With Republican Govenors trying to rig the votes in their States by making sure that the young folks, old folks, and the poor can't vote, they have good reason to be worried. If there is one thing the Republicans know, it's that they can't win a fair election where everybody gets to vote. Even Rupert Murdoch and his fool tool, (Fox News) can't spin reality that much. It's going to be a tough fight for the Dem's.
Who cares what timmy has to say? Mittins is Mittins worst enemy. I do agree with some of the other comments. As a dem the GOP does scare the hell out of me with thier lies chronic deception & hatred. Whats worse are the minions who follow them. There is a reason the GOP puts down education. Its much easier to controll a bunch of ignorant people,
You mean all the Republican wanna-bes can whine about Obama but they think Obama is worried when he does the same?
How long dose Black Friday last ?
Will the GOP candidates dress as Santa in the next debate ?
LOL. Comments from Pawlenty are as meaningless as his presidential run was. He is just another GOP loser.
Any of the Repubs that is selected by the "Party of No" should be extremely beatable in 2012 by President Obama.
This Republican field amazes me. Mitt (double talker) Romney, Newt (Mr. morality) Gingerich, Herman (what woman?) Cain, Michele (out of touch)Bachman, Rick, (I can't remember) Perry. I don't care who they are running against, if any Republican presidential candidate is elected, this country has bigger issues than the debt. We have allowed the Republican party to move way too far to the right and that needs to be corrected in 2012.
@ Southern Hottie: what references do you want?? that the Tea Party, OWS and largest midterm landslide in 50 years all occurred during Obama's time?? You have access to the internet which should carry a timeline somewhere – feel free to look up some facts before typing and asking somebody to reference reality for you. And how is your MA being 47th in job creation related to my comment?? have fun googling reality – and then maybe you'll join
@Ex-republican: your comment is as ignorant as it is not insightful. any questions on issues? or just ignorant comments? you have a 'ex-republican' handle – i doubt you ever were. i'm open to any comments on my comment, otherwise you can keep your hate-mongoring to yourself.
@kel – another insightful comment. if you would like to debate an issue, that's what this forum is for. otherwise i can direct you to a jerry springer forum for your other comments. you should fit right in.
The first guy to fall out of the clown car is pandering to be on the losing ticket with Mr. WeatherVain (sic). Trust me, we're not worried.
"Rather different track records between the Rs and the Ds."
Indeed. Nobody in the MSM will ever utter this FACT, but it's true: the last 5 recessions started while GOPers were in the WH and in control....1973, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2007. That's not coincidence, that's a trend.
@ carlos – before responding, a quick math lesson. 360 degrees is a full circle so it puts you right back where you started. so before typing, to borrow your phrase, you should look at your 3rd graders math book. second, way to engage in issues. i guess if you have nothing useful to say, you just choose not to say anything at all. third, CAPS LOCKS doesn't prove your point any better than lower case, it is just annoying.
Worried? About what? A field of Republican candidates that comes across like the circus act with 15 clowns climbing out of a Volkswagen? Please.