Washington (CNN) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, considered to be a leading candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, said Friday that he thinks potential GOP rival Sarah Palin is qualified to serve as president of the United States.
Romney, in an interview to air on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," cited her service as a local and then state official as well as her selection as the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008 as examples as to why she is qualified.
Blitzer, who was interviewing Romney about his new book "No Apology: The Case for American Greatness," specifically asked whether Palin is qualified to be president. "I sure do," said Romney.
He added, "She's been a mayor, she's been a governor, she's been part of a presidential campaign, she's got a lot of support."
Palin, a virtual unknown until she was chosen by Sen. John McCain to be his running mate in 2008, came under fire from critics who charged she did not have enough experience to be vice president.
Romney, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican Party nomination in 2008, was asked by Blitzer about running again for president, an idea he did not rule out.
Oh Mr. Romney, how imbecilic a self-portrait you've painted.
Well, that shows exactly why, from now on, Romney should have all utterances or writings generally disregarded, and he should never, ever be placed in a position or authority.
This guy has no credibility before he answered this question.
She is more qualified than President Obama and he's had the job for a year. She's got more support now, too! That's as much his fault as it is hers.
Any thread of relevance Romney had....now gone
"She's been a mayor, she's been a governor, she's been part of a presidential campaign, she's got a lot of support." YOU MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT SHE'S ALSO A QUITTER. Sorry, she is not Presidential material. However, I'd like to see her run. It would be fun and great for the Democrat for her to be on the ticket to split the republican party and create havoc.
Right, Mitt, and monkeys might fly out of my butt!
What is it about this woman that turns Republican men to mush? Are they afraid of her? How will they handle her if they have to go toe to toe with her for the Republican nomination? Anyone with half a brain knows Palin is not qualified.
Uh,Uh,Uh, how sad!
Slick liar. He knows that clown is not qualified. He is only playing nice so that HE can get the 2012 nomination.
Obama will destroy him. Bring it on.
And that tells you what you need to know about Romney's judgment: it's a bad as McCain's. Palin is a moron.
One step forward, one thousand steps back. Whatever happened to just being hoset about someone's qualifications, regarless of party affiliation.
Here I'll show you: I am a gun owning Democrat who voted for an Independent for Gov of NJ because I was in disagreement with over 50% of the ideas the democratic candidate offered. And as of right now I am happy with the progress that our REPUBLICAN is making in balancing NJ's huge deficit. I am still happy I voted for Obama and although I do not support all of his proposals I am mature and realistic enough to realize that NO candidate will ever agree with the American public 100% of the time.
See, I can express my opinion even if it "supposedly" makes my party look bad.
Well, this officially puts to rest my fear of seeing him in the White House. Thanks, Mitt the Muppet!
I used to think Mitt was a fairly smart guy with some good business sense but now I question his qualifications.
Doesn't Palin want to do a reality show about Alaska?
Love the comedy..keep it coming for late night material.
... and then the crazy negro broke my hair. Hee hee hee.
Most of you people are out of it. She has more experience as an executive than Barack Obama had when he was elected.
Are you kidding me? No wonder he lost the Republican bid. What a total joke this has become.
The fact that Mitt is saying this proves that he is unqualified to be president.
There are 2 possible reasons for his statement:
1. He is as stupid as the rest of the Palin supporters
2. He is making a cold political calculation that running against Palin in the primary will be good for him (Palin makes any other candidate look good), and this kind of deceitfulness is exactly what we can no longer accept from our politicians..
Mitt agrees with a small minority of the USA. I really don't know why he felt like he needed to say that Palin was qualified. Mitt is a smart man and a bad politician.
He just lost all credibility – kinda like McSongbird.
Geeeeesh
Mitt Romney is a genius: perfect SAT score, simultaneous JD and MBA from Harvard.
That being said, it is completely obvious that he is lying. Like all successful politicians, Mitt Romney has the ability to lie straight to your face and still seem sincere. That's OK; it's part of the game.
What I don't like is that, like McCain, he too seems to be willing to employ the most shameless of cynicism to appeal to base while in reality not giving two craps about them. It's this blind pursuit of power at all costs that sunk McCain, and it will sink Romney too.
And you just provided evidence that you are not qualified. . .
Palin is not qualified...of course neither is the sleazebag we have now
Romney & Palin 2012....Let's take our country back