Romney to rivals: Stop whining
February 16th, 2012
10:20 PM ET
11 years ago

Romney to rivals: Stop whining

(CNN) – Mitt Romney said Thursday his opponents complain too much about the political ad wars taking place among the campaigns and super PACs, arguing the competition is important for the Republican presidential nominating process.

“Look, it's not something I'm going to whine about. I know there are some candidates that want to whine about the fact that in campaigns you go back and forth, to talk about the distinctions between one another,” Romney said on Fox News. “But let's talk about a process that gets us to a nominee."

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His comments came a day after Santorum’s campaign released a new television ad against Romney, accusing him of making “ugly attacks” against the former Pennsylvania senator.

While Romney’s campaign says it hasn’t gone negative against Santorum, a pro-Romney super PAC has launched a blistering ad hitting Santorum as a “Washington insider” in states that hold contests in the coming weeks.

Santorum responded to the attacks Wednesday, repeating his criticism of Romney as a “uni-dimensional candidate” in an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan.

The former Massachusetts governor, however, said Thursday he’s not concerned about Santorum’s recent surge in the GOP horserace.

“Right now we have a new kid on the block who is going to go under the same scrutiny that everybody else goes under in this process,” Romney said. “I'm pleased that I have been able to come out with the most delegates."

Newt Gingrich has also called out Romney for his attack strategy, attributing his decline in the polls to Romney’s scathing campaign against him in Florida. Most recently, Gingrich has predicted his own campaign will soon bounce back in the race as Romney switches focus from the former House speaker to Santorum.

But Romney said his opponents should realize that a big race will come with a hard fight.

“No one is going to hand the nomination to someone on a silver platter,” Romney said. “They have to fight hard to win the nomination.”

Also see:

Gingrich gears up to fight for delegates in Michigan

Santorum took in $3.6M in four years; highest tax rate was 28.3%

Romney defends position on Detroit bailout

Santorum to North Dakota: Terrorists 'will bother you'


Filed under: 2012 • Mitt Romney • Rick Santorum
soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. carrotrot

    This is Romney's only strategy, obliterate your opponent with negative ads. Well, so much for trying to debate on substance.

    February 16, 2012 10:36 pm at 10:36 pm |
  2. Randy, San Francisco

    Nothing like a good old boy family values political fight with mud slinging, lies, half truths, distortions, and personal attacks. Too bad Palin and Bachmann aren't part of the fight club festivities.

    February 16, 2012 10:48 pm at 10:48 pm |
  3. Cody Fire

    hahaha – AWESOME! Finally somebody becomes the adult in the room

    February 16, 2012 11:15 pm at 11:15 pm |
  4. G

    With losing in Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Colorado, and now possibly Maine due to a recount, Romney's House of Cards is on the verge of collapsing and he is in full panic mode. He will do whatever it takes to bring down the rivals.

    February 17, 2012 12:19 am at 12:19 am |
  5. bontragerfamily@gmail.com

    Romney 2012!!!

    February 17, 2012 12:24 am at 12:24 am |
  6. Shelby

    Sounds like gingrich and Santorum failed to get the memo on how difficult it is to undergo vetting, to get the nomination, and to win in the general election. They both behave like whiny children rather than serious contenders.

    Romney 2012!

    February 17, 2012 01:50 am at 1:50 am |
  7. clarke

    He is a funny guy. First he spends millions on these ads, now he tells his rivals to stop whinning about how he has slammed them, only after he gets a taste of mud slinging himself.. Do as I say, not as I do kinda a guy. No Thanks.

    February 17, 2012 06:45 am at 6:45 am |
  8. sick of republican phonies

    This lying hypocrite...if he wasn't the one with the most money and the most outside PACs doing his dirty work, he'd be the loudest one screaming "Unfair!"

    February 17, 2012 07:06 am at 7:06 am |
  9. diridi

    This guy is a "Flip-Flopper". No agenda, no idea, no conscience, no ethics, no integrity, no nation's feelings, no caring for Poor, and Needy, and Middle Class. I pity this idiot. Nation is on right track now, and going in right direction. Obama2012.
    PS: I am telling the truth, without bias.

    February 17, 2012 08:21 am at 8:21 am |
  10. Tony

    Romney said the other day that politicians always accuse the other guy of what they are doing themselves.

    February 17, 2012 08:41 am at 8:41 am |
  11. Thomas

    Passive aggressive behavior.

    February 17, 2012 09:17 am at 9:17 am |
  12. Nuwan

    MY question is that why people has to buy into these negetive ads. By doing so arn't we letting big money control our democractic process. It is like our democracy is for sale for the higest bidder. We all us the oldest democracy in the world yet we let these candidates and those advertisements fool us into believing something. If people do not respond to those ads and try to take a more rational action by analysing the facts, they will stop running them. The very reason they use those ads extensively is because they know peoples votes can be bought with them. So at the end we have sold our democracy to the highest bidder in the game. That is the pathetic truth.

    February 17, 2012 09:31 am at 9:31 am |