Romney says debate isn't about winning and losing
DENVER (AP) — After dozens of hours of practice, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney arrived in Colorado on Monday for his first debate with President Barack Obama, telling thousands of voters he thinks the debates will be about "something bigger" than just who appears to emerge the winner.
"In my view it's not so much winning and losing or even the people themselves, the president and myself — it's about something bigger than that," Romney told a cheering crowd of thousands.
The Republican's campaign has been counting on the debates with President Barack Obama to set Romney on a path to winning the presidency. Romney spent more than a quarter of his time in September holding mock debates, poring over policy briefing books and sparring with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who stood in for Obama.
Romney planned another day of preparation Tuesday at his hotel on the outskirts of Denver, where most of his top advisers and at least a dozen more junior aides milled about in the lobby on Monday night.
They'd just come from the rally, held at a cavernous hangar at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, where Romney tried to enunciate a clearer message than the varying pitches he's made to voters in recent weeks. Though his campaign once talked about nothing but the economy, all the time, he's recently diverged into subjects including wealth distribution, Medicare and foreign policy as he has looked to seize any opportunity to gain ground on the incumbent president.
"They all fit under one umbrella," strategist Ed Gillespie insisted Monday morning on a conference call with reporters. "We cannot afford four more years like the last four years, and that includes four more years like the last four years."
The message wasn't as muddled by Monday night's rally. J, O, B, S, — jobs — spelled out giant banners posted behind the stage where Romney stood, supporters perched on stacked risers so they appeared next to the giant letters.
"Jobs is job one under my administration. We're going to get America working again by helping small business," Romney said, debuting a new line midway through his standard campaign speech.
He was introduced — briefly — by former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, who took the stage as an AC/DC rock song played and the crowd erupted with cheers. It was Romney's first event with voters since Friday, as he spent the weekend at home in Massachusetts raising money and preparing for the debate.
Romney, whose campaign slogan is "Believe in America," declared his love of country and said the voters who showed up to hear him were demonstrating their own care for the nation.
"I love America. I love the beauty of its rocks and rills and templed hills but a lot more than that I love the beauty of the American soul," Romney said. "The fact that you're here tonight, the fact that you care about an election shows how much we care in America."
Romney spent yet another morning Monday with Portman and top aides at a Boston-area hotel, getting ready for Wednesday night. He boarded his logo-plastered campaign plane in the afternoon, joined by nearly all of his top advisers: Gillespie, longtime aides Beth Myers and Peter Flaherty, confidante and former colleague Bob White, and top strategist and admaker Stuart Stevens.
The only adviser to speak formally with reporters on the Monday flight was spokesman Kevin Madden, who downplayed expectations for the first matchup with Obama.
"We do see it, again, as not one event but these next 35-plus days as a larger conversation that we're going to be having with voters that includes debates," Madden said.
"In my view it's not so much winning and losing or even the people themselves, the president and myself — it's about something bigger than that," Romney told a cheering crowd of thousands.
The Republican's campaign has been counting on the debates with President Barack Obama to set Romney on a path to winning the presidency. Romney spent more than a quarter of his time in September holding mock debates, poring over policy briefing books and sparring with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who stood in for Obama.
Romney planned another day of preparation Tuesday at his hotel on the outskirts of Denver, where most of his top advisers and at least a dozen more junior aides milled about in the lobby on Monday night.
They'd just come from the rally, held at a cavernous hangar at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, where Romney tried to enunciate a clearer message than the varying pitches he's made to voters in recent weeks. Though his campaign once talked about nothing but the economy, all the time, he's recently diverged into subjects including wealth distribution, Medicare and foreign policy as he has looked to seize any opportunity to gain ground on the incumbent president.
"They all fit under one umbrella," strategist Ed Gillespie insisted Monday morning on a conference call with reporters. "We cannot afford four more years like the last four years, and that includes four more years like the last four years."
The message wasn't as muddled by Monday night's rally. J, O, B, S, — jobs — spelled out giant banners posted behind the stage where Romney stood, supporters perched on stacked risers so they appeared next to the giant letters.
"Jobs is job one under my administration. We're going to get America working again by helping small business," Romney said, debuting a new line midway through his standard campaign speech.
He was introduced — briefly — by former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, who took the stage as an AC/DC rock song played and the crowd erupted with cheers. It was Romney's first event with voters since Friday, as he spent the weekend at home in Massachusetts raising money and preparing for the debate.
Romney, whose campaign slogan is "Believe in America," declared his love of country and said the voters who showed up to hear him were demonstrating their own care for the nation.
"I love America. I love the beauty of its rocks and rills and templed hills but a lot more than that I love the beauty of the American soul," Romney said. "The fact that you're here tonight, the fact that you care about an election shows how much we care in America."
Romney spent yet another morning Monday with Portman and top aides at a Boston-area hotel, getting ready for Wednesday night. He boarded his logo-plastered campaign plane in the afternoon, joined by nearly all of his top advisers: Gillespie, longtime aides Beth Myers and Peter Flaherty, confidante and former colleague Bob White, and top strategist and admaker Stuart Stevens.
The only adviser to speak formally with reporters on the Monday flight was spokesman Kevin Madden, who downplayed expectations for the first matchup with Obama.
"We do see it, again, as not one event but these next 35-plus days as a larger conversation that we're going to be having with voters that includes debates," Madden said.
that's what the loser always says...
Well, he's correct in a technical sense since the presidential debates are anything but a debate - they're just two people talking past one another trying to appeal to the basest instincts of the stupidest voters who didn't make up their minds seven months ago. But that's not why he's making the point - his rehearsals were probably a complete disaster and he's getting a jump on damage control by lowering expectations ahead of time.
FTA:
"Jobs is job one under my administration. We're going to get America working again by helping small business," Romney said, debuting a new line midway through his standard campaign speech."
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OK, how? What exactly are you going to do. Where are the details?Â
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It is almost as if he is afraid to tell us what he will do because we might not vote for him if we know.
If I were to say I voted for Romney because he is white, I would be a racist. If I was black and said I voted for Obama simply because he is black, that would be just fine. Makes sense.
 @skcusomok Well if you want to use simple deflection then, sure why not.
way off topic.
@skcusomok So maybe we should just count the votes of the non-whites and non-blacks just to be fair. That would be me, and I can tell you my opinion, that voting for Chameleon Mitty = Stupid and Obama = Sensible.
 @skcusomok Anyone who votes for or against someone based solely on the color of their skin is an idiot and a racist.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the people actually had a choice in who's voice gets heard. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the candidates really had a patriotic care for all of We the people. All the so called leaders of today do is whatever the money, NATO, the UN, the Unions/EU, and the World banking cartel say.
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We the people are fast becoming We the World Slave Force. The world cannot run on credit for much longer.
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Romney is correct, it's not about winning or losing. Either way We the people lose.
 @komoispropagandaÂ
Actually you are wrong about Romneys message, it is "me the people"
 @Hopp So my opinion is that they [both candidates] are in this for themselves and not the people I'm wrong because you favor Obama? If you actually think that ANY politician in your corner then my friend, you need to take a long look at the limiting choices We the People have.