Mitt Romney In 2002: 'My Views Are Progressive'

Mitt Romney described his views as "progressive" at a 2002 campaign stop in Worcester, Mass., while running for governor.

"I think the old standby definitions of who votes for which party have been blown away in this campaign," said Romney to New England Cable News. "I think people recognize that I'm not a partisan Republican; that I'm someone who is moderate; and that my views are progressive," he continued. "They're going to vote for me regardless of the party label," he added.

Andrew Kaczynski, a 22-year-old student, uploaded the video Tuesday to YouTube. Kaczynski has uploaded dozens of archival videos of politicians to YouTube revealing their past positions, sometimes to embarrassment.

Romney has been unable to spark large-scale enthusiasm among GOP voters during his campaign for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, and faces a strong challenge from former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who says he is more conservative.

As governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed a health care reform law similar to the law President Barack Obama signed. He also supported abortion rights in his 1994 Senate run against Ted Kennedy and supported state-funded abortions through Medicaid in his 2002 campaign for governor. He now describes himself as pro-life and favors repeal of the health care law.

Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul responded to the clip in Politico. "The very last thing the Democrats want to do is run against Mitt Romney. That is why they are focused on his campaign and not on the economy. The Democrats are continuing their campaign of deception in their strategy to 'kill Romney,'" she said. "If anyone has a question of how Mitt Romney will govern as president, take a look at his record of creating jobs, cutting spending, and protecting the sanctity of life and traditional marriage. That was his record as governor and that will be his record as president."