Denver, Colorado (CNN) – Mitt Romney blamed President Barack Obama for mischaracterizing his positions and forcing him to spend more time fund-raising, as the GOP presidential candidate looked to turn around his campaign trajectory and end a difficult week.
The Republican standard-bearer did not push back when asked Sunday whether he had fallen behind the president in key swing states, but said he expected the upcoming trio of debates would help him set the record straight.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
"He's trying to fool people into thinking that I think things that I don't," Romney told reporters on his campaign charter plane. "And that ends at the debates."
The first debate is scheduled for October 3 in Denver.
On his plane, Romney said Obama had incorrectly portrayed his policy positions on issues as diverse as the automobile industry bailout to abortion to tax proposals.
"He says I was in favor of liquidating the automobile industry - nothing could be further from the truth… He says I'm in favor of lowering taxes on wealthy people. No I'm not," Romney said, and he criticized Democratic campaign commercials. "He keeps running these things even though he knows they're wrong and saying them in rallies even though he knows they're wrong."
Romney, who in the past week was hit by the release of a covertly-filmed video in which he said 47% of Americans were dependent on government and by criticism from within his own party over the direction of his campaign, said as the election neared his role was to tell voters about his plans for the country.
As for public opinion polls, Romney said he did not pay much attention.
"I know in the coming six weeks they're very unlikely to remain where they are today, he said. "I'll either go up or I'll go down. It's unlikely that we'll just stay the same."
The Republican White House hopeful, who spent much of last week raising money in California, Florida and Texas, blasted Obama for opting out of public financing and forcing both candidates to spend more time wooing donors.
Last month Obama's campaign surprised political analysts by hauling in more money than Romney.
Romney said as his campaign moves forward he expected to be doing less fund-raising. The campaign has announced public events planned in Colorado and Ohio early this week.
"I don't expect this to be a contest of who can say the cutest phrase, I think it's a contest of very different directions for the country," Romney said. "And the president's direction will be spoken in the context of his record because he has a record. And my pathway forward will be spoken in the context of my record."
The Obama campaign quickly fired back a statement.
"It's odd that Mitt Romney, a former CEO, won't take personal responsibility for his campaign's troubles," said campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith. "And it certainly takes a lot of chutzpah for him–after his campaign bragged that it wouldn't be dictated by fact checkers–to shed crocodile tears over a legitimate discussion of his record and policies."
The state of Texas is reeling from recent comments by Tea Party favorite, Donna Campbell. A Doctor who is forcing her Extreme Views down the throats of Texas Women . Women don't like you . We don't approve of the way you are Pandering to Tea Party Republicans, in their War against Women . We are disgusted by the fact that an actual Female Dr. would promote Men forcing Women to do as they say, or you could be thrown in Jail. She probably agrees with Akins on Rape, but she would never admit it. Anyone who votes for this Tea Party Nut is equally as nutty.
Uh – NO - that would by Lyin Ryan and Rmoney.
Who is fooling who? In meetings not covered by the press Romney talks about having no interest in helping the 47%, yet he touts a lukewarm interest when talking in press covered events. How many more lies and deceit do we have to hear from him? Romney withholding his tax returns from the American people is a travesty. When he was being considered as a running mate in 2008, the McCain campaign received 20 years of returns. So apparently there is info there which could be unacceptable to the American public. Who's fooling who?
Once again, the pot calling the kettle black. No Willard, you and the republican party that are pulling off the biggest scam in history are the ones trying to fool the American people. You have proven over and over that you are an idiotic lightweight, that says 100 things and do 100 more. You weren't even VP material in 08, and you are showing that McCain made the correct decision.
Yes Willard, even Sarah Palin was better than you!
Imagine that face sitting behind a big desk, calling you in, and saying "you're Fired". Because that's what he likes to do - show that he controls everyone and everything in the world.