(CNN) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Monday he was unfazed by recent ramped-up rhetoric coming from his opponent Rick Santorum.
"I'm not going to worry too much about what Rick is saying these days," Romney said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." "I know when you're falling further and further behind, you get a little more animated."
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Santorum made headlines Sunday when he claimed Romney would be the "worst" Republican candidate to match up against President Barack Obama in the general election, based on the issue of health care reform.
The former Massachusetts governor, he argued, would be poorly armed in a fight against the president after signing off on a health care law in the Bay State that critics now label a "blueprint" for the controversial federal health care legislation passed in 2010.
Romney argues, however, that he would attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act as president, saying states should have the right to regulate health care laws, not Washington.
"It's a power grab by the federal government. It violates the 10th Amendment. It violates the economic principles and economy freedom in this country," Romney said on CNN. "It needs to be repealed."
The candidate also blasted Obama over a private conversation caught by microphone with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in which the president said he could be more flexible on the missile defense system in Europe after the election.
Romney joined other top Republicans in slamming the president over the remark on Monday and for making backroom deals with a country that Romney called America's "Number One geopolitical foe."
“Who is it that always stands up with the world's worst actors? It's always Russia, typically with China alongside. In terms of a geopolitical foe, a nation that’s on the Security Council, and as of course a massive nuclear power, Russia is the geopolitical foe. The idea that our president is planning on doing something with them that he's not willing to tell the American people before the election is something I find very, very alarming,” Romney said.
The White House hopeful also opened up about how he spent some recent time-off from the campaign trail, saying he went to watch "The Hunger Games" with his grandchildren over the weekend.
"I read serious books, but every now and then I read just for fun," Romney said, talking about how he read the book before seeing the movie. "That was weekend fun, so it was nice to see a flick for the first time in a long time."
Also see:
Santorum: Romney 'worst Republican' to run against Obama
Ryan's open to V.P spot
Graham's 'comfortable' with Romney
Plouffe calls out GOP candidates over Obama reaction
Watch The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer weekdays at 4pm to 6pm ET and Saturdays at 6pm ET. For the latest from The Situation Room click here.
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How many number one foes can one country have?
Right-wing extremism at home is a far bigger threat to this country than Russia...
I'm speechless!
Etch-a-Sketch Mitt Romney foreign policy mantra:
Russia No. 1 'foe'
China No. 1 'foe'
North Korea No. 1 'foe'
Iran No. 1 'foe'
Does this idiot Mitt even have a clue what he is saying?
Romney does not get it – just like ginGRINCH is on a bout of his own
They are both fighting a LOSING battle and neither one of them will make it to the throne
Romney is the "author" of ObamaCare so when he speaks against it – it's a disgrace
And ginGRINCH – after only winning two states – thinks he's still "winning the race"
Santorum on the other hand is going "buck wild"
He truly believes he is some kind of "flower child"
Where he can say whatever he wants and then turn it around
And then needing his WIFE to pull his tail to say he's "out of bound"
The Only Trusted Way Forward is electing Pr4esident in November, 2012!!
What? His foreign policy advisor must be Sarah Palin...? Or is it now anyone Obama speaks to is our #1 enemy...Well, then I hope Obama doesn't talk to Britain...I don't know if we are hearing the lies of GOP Politics or just plain old Supidity! Whatever? I am just not going to even try to Understand his Logic...
The more these guys talk, the more desperate they seem! Russia is our foe now? When did that happen? I'm sure this comes as a surpise to many of Romney's contemporaries in DC, as well as the Russian government! They will probably be stunned at 1st, but then they'll remember who's talking! An Unreliable Source!!
Unfortunate Romney is the one that is talking here. Our country is in a world of hurt.
When one is pandering to the lowest and most radical element of ones political party you take a very big chance of sounding stupid to everyone else.....guess what???? You can't erase sounding stupid,It's best never to sound that way when trying to be president.
Radical Islam in the "No. 1 foe" of America and the rest of the civilized world. We can reason with the Russians and the Chinese. You can't reason with a bunch of brainwashed loonies who think they are doing god's will by killing "infidels", and have no problem with killing themselves in the process. The USA, Russia and China are all in the same boat when it comes to dealing with these nutcases. Cooperation, in this area, would benefit everyone involved.
More Cold War rhetoric from the GOP guys, more "evil empire" talk. Fifty years of it was enough.
This guy is getting more scarier by the day!! He keeps it up we will be at war.
I think Romney was quite clear on what he meant; he didn't flip flop or change anything. He's been saying this for years in his major speeches. He said that Russia, with thousands of nuclear bombs and more power than anyone in the middle east, consistently sides with our worst enemies. Can't argue with that. Obama gave up our European defensive system to Russia without a single concession in return. I think Romney has a point on this one.
Our number one geopolitical foe eh. I would tell Mitt what someone told me: It's better to keep your mouth shut and have someone think your a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!"
The etch a sketch erased Iran and now Romney has Russia on the front page of his etch a sketch. As long it creates turmoil with all other countries Republicans will be happy to say anything and hope that gas prices keep going up and fear is the emotion of the election.The Hunger Game could be the theme of the Republican campaign,hungry for power at any to cost,to the poor and middle class.
Obamas gone 2012 and I am a democrat. God bless America
More pandering to the teabagger crowd, reigniting Cold War, chest-beating rhetoric, plus that insipid '10th Amendment' argument. Romney's not even trying to hide his transparency anymore.
the the republicans want to invade russia now and bypass a little player like iran, after russia surrenders in about six weeks ,it will off to china i guess,mitt who,s going to lend you the money iceland
Hey, Mitt, look at a calendar, why don't you? The Cold War has been over for more than 20 years. Russia and America, working together, have reduced the global nuclear stockpile by an order of magnitude. We all know Republicans love to start wars, but this is going a little far, creating an unnecessary enemy.
Republicans like this and what oozes forth from their mouths must really embarrass rational and intelligent Americans. What is going on there in your country ? Russian now the number one foe ? Sounds like a fundamentalist religious nut like some evangelicals tend to be.
Antagonizing our enemies to rile up the American people and unite behind the man. This tactic is as old as the hills...and a real bore. Nice try, though...
Romney needs to stop getting his news from FAUX, and off the walls in the washrooms!!!!
Wolverines! We can take those Russians! Thanks Mitt! Let's go get 'em! Last time I checked, they had nukes, so we better ask Canada or someone who we like for help- oh, wait, they have Socialist Healthcare...hmmm... How bout England! Nope, Socialists too...Who do we have left?...
I can only wish I get as rich as Mittens so I could afford to be that out of touch with reality. Mittens should never be President if he truly believes Russia is more dangerous to us than a host of other countries. While Russia and the U.S. certainly have differences, Russia is far from our ""Number One geopolitical foe" and with the fullness of time folks in both countries will realize we are natural allies, not enemies.
Republicans will have this country fighting wars forever............
Yet people elect them again and again.