Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney’s former rival and current national campaign co-chair, told reporters on Monday that Democrats were attacking the former Massachusetts governor out of fear he’d be a formidable general election nominee.
“This Administration does not want to campaign against Mitt Romney and be forced to defend three years of failure,” he said. “Instead of focusing on the middle class and job creation, President Obama and Democrats are focused on campaigning and trying to tear down Mitt Romney.”
Pawlenty’s comments came after Democrats launched a new multi-pronged campaign to highlight Romney’s shifts on various issues, including abortion, health care, and immigration.
He added that Democrats were going after Romney, “because they don’t want to focus on their own failure.”
“President Obama, when it comes to the economy, is essentially the Barney Fife of presidents,” Pawlenty said. “His stumbling bumbling is reminiscent of Jimmy Carter.”
In addition to Pawlenty, the Romney campaign organized state-level press calls with top supporters to rebut the latest Democratic offensive.
“As millions of Americans look for work, the Obama campaign and Democrats are attempting to distract attention away from this administration’s dismal record,” NH Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley said in a statement. “The attack they have launched against Mitt Romney shows just how worried they are about facing him in the general election.”
A call with former Iowa GOP chairman Brian Kennedy, another Romney supporter, was scheduled for late afternoon on Monday as well.
Benjy Sarlin
Benjy Sarlin is a reporter for Talking Points Memo and co-writes the campaign blog, TPM2012. He previously reported for The Daily Beast/Newsweek as their Washington Correspondent and covered local politics for the New York Sun.
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