Lakhota
Diamond Member
By Pema Levy
Mitt Romney has been dogged by an unfortunate statistic for his entire campaign: When he was governor, Massachusetts ranked 47th in job creation. President Obamas campaign has ramped up the attack this week in response to Romneys assertion that he knows how to create jobs a fact he says is backed up by his record in the private sector. Sunday, Romneys campaign struck back with a new line of defense: Romney stepped into a serious situation and improved it.
If it sounds familiar, it should its the same line of reasoning that Obama is using to persuade voters to stick with his policies.
Twice on Sunday, Romneys advisers appeared on television armed with different numbers than the ones wielded by the Obama campaign. On ABCs This Week, Obamas deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter and top Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom duked it out over Romneys Massachusetts record.
Senior Romney adviser Ed Gillespie had a similar exchange with Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace. When [Romney] took office it was No. 50 in job creation. Actually 51 if you count the District of Columbia, Gillespie said.
Wallace: We will check out the numbers.
Gillespie: Well, check it out, OK? And when ended his term in office, his four years in office, it was number 30. So, he moved it dramatically.
Wallace: Over the four years, it was 47th. There was no question about that.
More: Romney Camp Debuts New Jobs Numbers To Defend Massachusetts Record | TPM2012