‘Robotic’ Romney Repeating Failed Promises, New Obama Video Says
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Mitt Romney’s record as governor of Massachusetts has been sort of a taboo topic on the campaign trail, with the Republican candidate rarely discussing his years in public office, preferring to trumpet his private sector experience instead.
President Obama’s re-election team now wants to change that dynamic, turning taboo into talking points, highlighting Romney’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign promises on jobs, taxes and state debt that they say were left unfulfilled.
“Romney campaigned for governor on the promises of more jobs, decreased debt and smaller government,” senior Obama strategist David Axelrod writes in a research memo to “interested parties.” “When he left office, however, state debt had increased, the size of government had grown and over his four years, Massachusetts’ record of job creation was among the worst in the nation.”
Axelrod will host a rare press conference later Thursday in Boston to drive the case home with officials who served in Massachusetts’ state government during Romney’s tenure. Testimonials on Romney’s record from several state officials are also featured in a new campaign web video.
“There are times when I watch Mitt Romney saying the exact same things now as he said here in Massachusetts in 2002 in a robotic way that is completely hollow,” says state Rep. Carl Sciortino of the 34th Middlesex District. “It didn’t work here, so I’m not quite sure why he thinks it might work nationally.”
The video notes that, despite his much touted business experience, Romney presided over a lackluster state economy. Between 2003 and 2007, Massachusetts slid to 47th out of 50 states in job creation, the manufacturing sector saw a net job loss and workers’ wages fell. Taxes and fees on state services climbed, while state debt grew by $2.6 billion.
“He raised our taxes by raising our fees,” says state Rep. Jay Kaufman of the 15th Middlesex District.
“But a rose by any other name is still a rose. That’s a tax. Let’s call it what it is,” added Rob Dolan, mayor of Melrose, Ma.
Other local figures appearing in the four-minute video include John Barrett, former mayor of North Adams, Mass.; state Sen. Karen Spilka of the 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk District; Jack Yunits, former mayor of Brockton, Mass.; and, state Rep. Jeffrey Sachez of the 15th Suffolk/Norfolk District. All are Democrats.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio