November 3rd, 2012
06:23 AM ET
10 years ago

Romney: Vote for country, not revenge

West Chester, Ohio (CNN) - White House hopeful Mitt Romney vowed to deliver real change at a blockbuster rally he headlined with running mate Paul Ryan in battleground Ohio.

The Republican presidential nominee criticized President Barack Obama, who during his own visit to the Buckeye State said voting was the “best revenge.” The Democratic incumbent altered a traditional refrain from his stump speech when he received boos from the audience.

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"No, no, no – don't boo, vote," Obama said Friday in Springfield, Ohio. "Vote. Voting is the best revenge."

That evening, in West Chester, Romney responded, "Our big dreams will not be satisfied by his small agenda that already failed us. Today, did you see what President Obama said today? He asked his supporters to vote for revenge – for revenge. Instead I ask the American people to vote for love of country."

With Election Day four days away, the GOP running mates kicked off what the campaign dubbed a "Real Recovery Road Rally" tour that will include events with the candidates, their wives and 100 surrogates in the final days of the presidential race.

At least 40 of those surrogates appeared at the chilly outdoor rally with Romney and Ryan that drew a massive audience in the Cincinnati suburb– crowd estimates ranged from 18,000 to 30,000 – and included a performance by Kid Rock, who belted out "Born Free" from on top of a piano.

Guests included 2008 GOP presidential nominee Arizona Sen. John McCain; Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida; House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio; and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who delivered a series of blistering zingers against the president who rallied the crowd with line after line of reasons why Obama should "resign" and faulting him for "incompetence" over the Libya consulate attacks.

The surrogates will fan out across eleven battleground states: Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Of the GOP powerhouse Romney said, "They are about to Fan out across the entire nation to make sure we have victory on November 6, and some comic on the team has named us the Romney-Ryan Real Recovery Road Rally – I got it out – that's R6 for short.They're going to make sure we win. Ohio is the center place. We're going to make sure this is the place we take. And we're going to take back the White House."

Jokes aside, a new poll indicates the race for arguably the most important battleground state remains very close. According to a CNN/ORC International survey released Friday, Obama holds a three point advantage over Romney in the contest for Ohio's much fought over 18 electoral votes.

That did not appear to be lost on Romney.

He said, "Your state is the one I'm counting on by the way. This is the one we have to win."

- CNN's Rachel Streitfeld, Ashley Killough, and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.


Filed under: 2012 • Mitt Romney • Ohio • Paul Ryan
soundoff (100 Responses)
  1. Mike in Texas

    Many voters voting for Romney are voting for Romney out of hatred for the President. Even though he has lowered their taxes and turned around an economic disaster. The biggest block of these people are white men, usually with no college education. They are jealous of the success of a black man and hate him for it. I am sure more white people are voting for Romney because he is white than black people are voting for Obama because he is black. Democrats always get upper 80's or 90's percentage of black voters. Interesting that the gap between Obama and Romney for white male voters is one of the largest in electoral history. Coincidence? I think not. Oh by the way, I am white with a college degree in accounting so I am not one of the 47% that Mitt talked about.

    God bless America!!
    Obama 2012

    November 3, 2012 11:21 am at 11:21 am |
  2. giftedgirl77

    But won't because your campaign has resorted to blatant lies, voter suppression, and voter intimidation.

    The Romney campaign cleary thinks the "average" American is either deaf, blind, stupid, or all of the above.

    The votes he will get will come from people that are voting bases solely on these stupid ads, believe the nonsense being spewed from it's campaign, or are diehard republicans. The sad thing is none of them are basing their vote on facts rather than fiction.

    Thankfully the majority has common sense and will vote to keep the President in office.

    November 3, 2012 11:26 am at 11:26 am |
  3. thetruthandnothingbutthetruth

    dont worry, romney will be shelacked Tues. I'll bet the farm!

    November 3, 2012 11:34 am at 11:34 am |
  4. jt

    I am voting for love.... love of my president.... go Obama 2012... You know the country is like a huge ship ...you can't turn it around immediately only slowly and surely.. that is what this admin is doing.. and we are going in the right direction. Now that the country has started its recovery and if Romney does get voted in he will gladly take credit for the work that has been started... of course things like Obamacare will be destroyed... right now my husband is benefiting ..during the medicare doughnut hole for drugs where people have no insurance coverage for drugs.. Obamacare has already implemented a 50% discount on non generic drugs during that time.. my husband takes a drug that costs $1200 a month!! and you know if the republicans would have let Medicare bid for low cost drugs like insurance companies do we would not be in this situation. Sad how Republicans are influenced by huge insurance companies. I am just saying for those who have not voted.. please think about what I have said... Romney sounds great looks great but remember when he saved the Olympics it was with Government dollars and they were not paid back. To me he is like the little rich boy who wants something so bad he will do anything to get it and that is the big prize.. the president of the USA... I have yet to hear his passion for his love of this country his passion for the needs of the people. his passion for the most in need .. his passion for the jobs for our people.

    November 3, 2012 11:36 am at 11:36 am |
  5. jtcjtc55

    You are correct and I agree. Voting for country and many other things. Plan to re-elect President Obama. I've heard the speaches, the debates and I just do not trust Mitt Romney. (Not that the Dems have it all correct.) The other major factor for me is the Tea Party is the most dangerous group to come along in the history of American politics and right now they controll the Republican party. That's enough to lose my vote regardless of presidential candidates.

    November 3, 2012 11:38 am at 11:38 am |
  6. Mike in Texas

    538 Politics update as of this morning

    Obama is now at a 83.7% of winning the election.
    He is projected at 305 electoral votes to 233 for Romney
    Battleground States chance of winning:

    Colorado: Obama 68% (This was a 50/50 chance less than two weeks ago)
    Florida: Romney 55% (Romney was at 68% less than two weeks ago)
    Iowa: Obama 81% (Obama was at 64% two weeks ago)
    Nevada: Obama 89% (Obama was at 75% two weeks ago)
    New Hampshire: Obama 80% (Obama was less than 70% two weeks ago)
    North Carolina: Romney 80% (Romney has maintained 80 or above)
    Ohio: Obama 84% (Obama at low 70's two weeks ago)
    Virginia: Obama 67% (This was a tie two weeks ago)
    Wisconsin: Obama 94%. In fact 538 doesn't even consider this a battle ground state anymore.

    As for Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, Obama has at least a 96% chance of winning each state.

    Romney ran out of mojo and time. He peaked too early. The debate was a month ago. My belief is Obama will have 281-303 electoral votes. If he surprises in Florida he could get 332 electoral votes. Even the right leaning Rasmussen poll shows Obama tied with Romney in Ohio.

    The only logical argument that could be made if Romney wins if there is a bias in the sampling. Currently 19 of the 20 swing state polls show a tie or Obama ahead. Only one shows Romney ahead. While there may be sampling bias against Romney, there could also be sampling bias against Obama which could mean a much bigger victory for Obama.

    Basically those predicting a Romney landslide have their heads in the clouds.

    November 3, 2012 11:39 am at 11:39 am |
  7. JackinNC

    Thank God that Barack Obama is our President. The Republican "trickle-down, voodoo economics" theory has never worked before, and I'm not gullible enough to vote for it now. Our economy has been growing steadily out of recession, and major factors indicate growth will continue. I've voted a straight Democratic ticket for a strong America.

    November 3, 2012 11:55 am at 11:55 am |
  8. Ray

    Wow, no wonder Washington is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO broken!

    November 3, 2012 12:00 pm at 12:00 pm |
  9. J.R.

    I will vote for love of country and sound principles. My vote rests with Romney!!

    November 3, 2012 12:04 pm at 12:04 pm |
  10. babak

    Obama only can win by hatred!He cant defent last 4 years!hatred!He cant defent his record, 7.9 persent unemplyment!His only hope is increasing hatred!7.9 persent unemplyment !If you love America vote romney!

    November 3, 2012 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |
  11. Mike in Texas

    If they are voting for Country then they will vote for Obama.

    November 3, 2012 12:06 pm at 12:06 pm |
  12. bcrunner

    I think finally! Finally, people are beginning to realize this guy is a liar!! Compare the two as far as honesty in their ads!! There is a world of difference!! Do some of Obama's ads may be stretching some facts? maybe so... But NONE! NONE! are lies!! They are all based on facts. On the other hand, 90% if not more of Romney's ads are lies!! And, his last one about Jeep, just burned him!! He is toast!!

    November 3, 2012 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |
  13. Expat American

    Revenge indeed. For all the disrespect that the other side has arrogantly shown towards the President for the past 4 years.

    November 3, 2012 12:11 pm at 12:11 pm |
  14. Yoness

    Revenge is a dish best served cold – It is very cold in Ohio.

    November 3, 2012 12:13 pm at 12:13 pm |
  15. Txpharm

    Obama spent the first 2 years unilaterally ramming a 2700 page monster entitlement down the throats of an electorate that did not want it. He cooked the CBO books to distort the now $2 trillion cost in a nation that borrows a third of it's operating budget from China. Then he ignored his own deficit commission, leaving each US citizen with a $50,000 share of our now $16 trillion deficit. Entitlement spending hasincreased an insane 75% in the last 12 years, yet Obama campaigns on leaving benefits untouched, saying the rich can pay off the $16 trillion defcit, the 10s of trillions in unfunded enitilemnets including Obamacare. It's a lie. YOU WILL BE WORKING HALF THE YEAR FOR THE WELFARE STATE DEMOCRATS ARE CREATING. This election is about the proportion of our population who think other people should go to work so that they don't have to. If Obama is re elected,then the last bit of denial about America being formally in decline is gone. Buy gold and learn Greek.

    November 3, 2012 12:15 pm at 12:15 pm |
  16. Carlos Lorenzo

    Obama makes it plain what drives him..hatred and revenge of his fellow Americans.

    November 3, 2012 12:21 pm at 12:21 pm |
  17. resawven

    A GOP draft Dodger Romney asking Americans to vote for their country.

    Obama should enjoy the support.

    November 3, 2012 12:26 pm at 12:26 pm |
  18. Sharon

    Yes, Mitt, vote for the country so vote Obama/Biden. The republican party wants to take us back – I lived through the 50's and 60's and don't want to see my daughters or granddaughters living through the 1850's!! As a native of Michigan, I just think your father must be rolling in his grave. Such a good man to have such a throwback. I almost choked when someone said his statement about being brainwashed was that the Chinese/North Vietnamese were responsible – no, my friends, he meant it about Nixon and the military. George Romney ended his career when he came out against Vietnam. Too bad his ablility to choose his principles over his political advancement was not passed alone to his son.

    November 3, 2012 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |
  19. don in albuquerque

    We will be voting for the country, Mitt. And that is why we will not be voting for the Baggers or You.

    November 3, 2012 12:32 pm at 12:32 pm |
  20. sparks2000

    Romney:vote for the wealthy,not for the middle class or poor........his new campaign slogan.......the 1% need my vote,so you vote for me too....lol

    November 3, 2012 12:41 pm at 12:41 pm |
  21. SEAL Team Alpha and Omega

    Willard is the most hated man on earth, even Jesus wouldn't forgive his sins. Let's all pray that he dies a horrible death on Monday and then burns in hell for eternity.

    In Jesus name, amen.

    November 3, 2012 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |
  22. Logic n LA

    Revenge in votign is against Congress for doing nothing for the past tow years- Get the Republicans out of control and give the President and congress 4 full years to do something. The revenge is about punishing a job not done.

    November 3, 2012 12:59 pm at 12:59 pm |
  23. Wanderer

    R-R ticket is now really feeling defeated, I think.

    November 3, 2012 01:17 pm at 1:17 pm |
  24. enuff

    Wyoming now has a case of voter intimidation by employers... threatening business liquidation if Obama is re-elected. The attorney general for the county involved says he knows nothing about it, despite election officials turning it over to him. Look at what this has come down to...people's rights being threatened with a paycheck. This needs to stop. Vote for the best candidate. Not the candidate that is being forced on you.

    November 3, 2012 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |
  25. Sandy

    I am voting for our country. That's why I'm voting for President Obama.

    November 3, 2012 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |
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