Mitt Romney Reverses Course Again, Says Obama Made Recession Worse

This post has been updated.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said that the U.S. economy has deteriorated under the Obama administration at a fourth of July parade in New Hampshire on Monday, according to multiple reports.

The suggestion from Romney comes on the heels of the former Massachusetts governor walking back the very same suggestion last week.

"The recession is deeper because of our president," said Romney on Monday, the Los Angeles Times reports. "It's seen an anemic recovery because of our president. The people who want the status quo can vote for him, but people who want real change and jobs for Americans are going to vote for us."

Romney has struggled to stay focused on his main goal of criticizing Obama's handling of the economy after a verbal misstep last week. Pressed by an NBC producer at a press availability, Romney said, "I didn't say that things are worse." He added, "What I said was [the] economy hasn't turned around."

The Democratic National Committee jumped on the remarks, and released a web video targeting the comments.

UPDATE: Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul relays the following statement:

“If the Democrats are waiting for Mitt Romney to ease up on his criticism of President Obama’s economic record, it’s simply not going to happen. It is an undeniable fact that Barack Obama has failed to create jobs and fix the economy. He is on track to be the only president to leave office with a net job loss. President Obama and the Democrats will spend the next 17 months trying to distract voters from their horrible record on the economy – and it’s not going to work.”

WATCH:

Comments

[Denverzoom]

02:17 AM on 07/07/2011

here is his record from market watch report... "The Republican contender was the governor of Massachusetts from January 2003 to January 2007. And during that time, according to the U.S. Labor Department, the state ranked 47th in the entire country in jobs growth. Fourth from last.
The only ones that did worse? Ohio, Michigan and Louisiana. In other words, two rustbelt states and another that lost its biggest city to a hurricane. The Massachusetts jobs growth over that period, a pitiful 0.9%, badly lagged other high-skill, high-wage, knowledge economy states like New York (2.7%), California (4.7%) and North Carolina (7.6%)." http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mitt-romney-tries-to-play-the-jobs-card-2010-02-23?pagenumber=1

[LeFlaneur]

10:08 PM on 07/06/2011

Prepare to read that headline a lot in the coming months.

[huff reader]

11:39 AM on 07/06/2011

Hey, Mitt. Just go ahead and stick BOTH feet in your mouth at once. That way, they'll already be there, and you won't have to worry about which one goes in next...

[den1953]

11:33 AM on 07/06/2011

For once if Mitt Romney decides to double down on a talking point i just wish he would get it correct the recession ended 6 moths after the President was sworn in and the Wall Street CEO'S are making more money then ever before, corporations are sitting on billions and the Market has gained a consistent pace during the two years the President took over............. Tell the facts Mitt you look like a fool and a liar when you don't tell the truth!

[den1953]

11:29 AM on 07/06/2011

Spoken like a true Governor of a state that ranked 47 th out of 50 states that created jobs and had more unemployment during his term!

[Ldyforce6]

11:34 AM on 07/06/2011

He is such a liar...as the facts do not prove that at all. Jobs are increasing and layoffs are decreasing...it is a NET GAIN in jobs. The recession is not worse...and he knows it.

Now if the "fixer" comes in, it could be...that WAS his specialty...coming in, breaking companies apart, getting rid of jobs and selling off what was left for his own profit.

[den1953]

12:48 PM on 07/06/2011

The Republicans need that fear factor they have no platform to run on the only thing they have is doom and gloom and scare the voters into thinking they are the best solution to our countries problems!

[Denverzoom]

02:05 AM on 07/07/2011

you are right ... here is the guy, who kicked people out of the job in the name of restructuring, and then sold the company for a record profit. Now he is saying he knows how to create jobs. Am I missing something? You can find his Jan 2008 speech at http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/2008/01/romney-laying-p.html

[chaapai]

11:00 AM on 07/06/2011

Romney will do anything, say anything and spend anything to become President. We should all be very afraid of this man who is partofareligouscult that holds an American State essentiallyHostage to their bizarre "faith".

[chaapai]

10:57 AM on 07/06/2011

this is going to come out as religionbashng and I'm sorry for it, but… I am simply astonished that we would even be talking about a MormonCandidate. How can we trust an adult man with the decisions about our nations direction, when they cant clearly see the truth about this absurd"religion"? Debunked by all and anyone outside the church. Founded by a charlatan and with a history of abuse&silliness. And if you don't like what I claim… then prove otherwise. I am open to a debate. I personally wouldn't want this man within a 100 mile radius of The White House. The man belongs to a "religious"Cult. Now, of course ALLreligionsarecults! I personally don't want any overtlyreligious person in charge. But lets be honest… Mormonismisjustonehalfstep above Scientology.

[dayzee10]

10:50 AM on 07/06/2011

PLING.........................PLING.........................PLING..........................PLING.........................PLING....................PLING!!!!!!! NitMittens Rombot still backflipping on his multi-million dollar trampoline

[swancj]

10:30 AM on 07/06/2011

" He is on track to be the only president to leave office with a net job loss. "

Wasn't that Bush Jr.? Sorry Republicans, most people remember who was the actual president to leave office with a net job loss.

[headly67]

10:15 AM on 07/06/2011

Witless Mitt heading to England to get money for a American campaign.

How patriotic.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/06/romney-heads-to-london-to-raise-funds-meet-officials/#more-166363

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

10:00 AM on 07/06/2011

Romney is THIS >< close to start blathering a 25 foot Jesus told him to take this position... he's doing a FULL-GLENN-BECK

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

09:48 AM on 07/06/2011

Old Mitt, New Mitt, Red Mitt, Blue Mitt...his carosel of personalities is in HYPER DRIVE this election....I already have motion sickness, and it's over a year from the election.

[Ryan Kenneth Leddy]

07:47 AM on 07/06/2011

Oh man, this group of Republican candidates would be riding the short bus to school. They're not charismatic, they almost all lack experience and the two who do have real experience in Paul and Newt don't have a chance of being elected. Have any of the Republican candidates came out with their own views yet? Thus far, all I see them doing is saying The Democrats are doing this wrong, and this wrong, and this wrong without saying what their actual views on the subject are aside from Ron Paul who like I said, has no chance of being elected. The reason why they do this is because they are spineless and want to keep their opinions to their self till the last moment, just in case they want to change them up some more. Could you imagine any of these clowns in a one on one debate with Obama? It would be like the New York Yankees against six year old tee-ballers.

[Gebby]

03:29 AM on 07/06/2011

Romney should just campaign as coke a cola. That is all he is . No real substance, just refined sugar.

[huff reader]

11:42 AM on 07/06/2011

...and a lot of fizz.

[darfut]

03:05 AM on 07/06/2011

I believe had we elected a republican president in 2008 the country would be in ruin. Obama has fought every republican effort to discredit him. Actually, he is much smarter than anything the pubs can throw at him. I'll put my money on the BIG O come election day 2012.