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1530342 tn?1405016490

On day of data, Romney turns personal

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/05/14251063-on-day-of-data-romney-turns-personal#comments

ST. PETERSBURG, FL-- On a day in which the news cycle was dominated by a political back-and-forth over the latest jobs report, Mitt Romney on Friday night took a personal tack instead at a rally here, regaling his audience with sometimes-morbid tales of courage from the Americans he has met over the years who have inspired him.

Midway through his remarks here at a steamy rally with more than 5,000 supporters, Romney pivoted away from his talking points on the economy and towards personal anecdotes. Perhaps most touching of the three tales of courage amid loss was that of David Oparowski, a young boy whom Romney counseled through his battle with leukemia; including writing a will for the 14-year old boy.

"I went to David’s bedside and got a piece of legal paper, made it look very official. And then David proceeded to tell me what he wanted to give his friends. Talked about his fishing rod, and who would get that. He talked about his skateboard, who’d get that. And his rifle, that went to his brother," Romney recalled.

"I’ve seen the character of a young man like David, who wasn’t emotional or crying. He had his eyes wide open. There’s a saying, clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose," Romney said, quoting from Friday Night Lights, a television drama about football in a small Texas town of which he and Mrs. Romney are both devoted fans. "David couldn’t lose. I loved that young man."

The more personal tone from Romney, including Oparowski's story, which was told by his mother at the Republican convention last month, marked the continued evolution of the Romney campaign's strategy to further round out their candidate's image in the final weeks of the convention.

"This is quite a nation we live in, with some extraordinary people," Romney said, wrapping up his third anecdote, about a soldier he was told about at the convention, whose mother told Romney her son had died abroad to protect freedom -- even the freedoms of "misguided" protesters who picketed the soldier's funeral.

Even as Romney pivoted back to the economy, he kept his more personal, compassionate tone. Obliquely remarking on today's jobs report, Romney said he understood that Americans both with jobs and without were suffering.

"People in this country are having a hard time finding a job," Romney said. "People in this country are having a hard time making ends meet even if they have a job."
5 Responses
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1530342 tn?1405016490
I don hate him at all. I actually liked Romney. I thought he was the best person to run against the President. I had respect for him until the comment about the 47%. IMO I think he's fake. I think he'll say whatever he can to get elected. Yes all politicians do but Romney IMO is one that at the end of the day only cares about himself and his buddies at the top...Just my opinion that is all. I know there are people out there that feel the same way about Obama and that's cool with me.
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649848 tn?1534633700
I hit "post" too soon.............

Just because the jobs report was better, doesn't mean we're out of the woods, yet.  After all, it's not like there's a job opening on every corner, but I'm still seeing jobless on many corners, begging for food, work, etc.  
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649848 tn?1534633700
Wow - talk about hate.......Can't you even give the man credit for being human?
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1530342 tn?1405016490
He has no choice but to turn personal. His #1 talking point about no jobs and a falling economy is no more.....Now he's compassionate about those 47% that "need to take personal responsibility for themselves "feel entitled to have food, shelter, and healthcare...Puh-lease Mr. Romney.......
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Avatar universal
Awww, he's really caught my vote...NOT!
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