Mitt Romney offered a somber reflection on the Aurora, Color., shooting in a brief appearance in New Hampshire on Friday.
“Grieving and worried families in Aurora are surrounded with love today and not just by those who are with them and holding them in their arms,” Romney said. “They can also know that they are being lifted up in prayer by people in every part of our great nation. Now and in the hard days to come, may every one of them feel the sympathy of our whole nation and the comfort of a loving God.”
He said that “there will be justice for those responsible, but that’s another matter for another day.”
“Today is a moment to grieve and to remember, to reach out and to help, to appreciate our blessings in life,” Romney said. “Each one of us will hold our kids a little closer, linger a bit longer with a colleague or a neighbor, reach out to a family member or friend.”
The Republican candidate concluded: “We will show our fellow citizens the good heart of the America we know and love. God bless you for being here and sharing together this moment of sorrow and God bless the United States of America.”
Romney was introduced by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), who appeared close to tears as she declared that the day’s event, previously scheduled as a campaign rally, would be used to “come together as a community and to offer our collective condolences and prayers.”
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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