Romney says he’s ‘planning’ on winning, touts ability to ‘come from behind’
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney trumpeted his ability to “come from behind” in Michigan, saying he did so in 2008 and expected to do so in Tuesday’s primary.
“I’m proud of the fact that I was born and raised in Michigan. And, you know, last time when I ran here against Senator McCain, I think started off eight points behind in the polls, with two weeks ago and was able to fight very hard, earned every vote, and ended up winning, as you point out,” said Romney on Fox News Sunday.
{mosads}”About 10 days ago, I think Rasmussen had me down 15 points in Michigan. Now, it’s tied or slightly ahead. I think I can show that I can fight real hard and come from behind,” he added.
Romney is locked in a tight race with GOP rival Rick Santorum in Michigan and Arizona both of which vote on Feb. 28. Polls show Santorum ahead of Romney nationally, but with Romney holding a slight edge in the two key upcoming contests.
Asked by host Chris Wallace if he was going to win in Michigan, Romney responded: “Well, I’m planning on winning here in Michigan and also in Arizona.”
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“Obviously, that will be huge for us if we’re able to do, particularly having come from so far behind here in Michigan. So, we are planning on winning. We’re making — obviously, the momentum is in the right direction. We’ve cut the lead down and now, we’re tied, we’re slightly ahead.”
Romney who has faced a series of challenges from his GOP rivals, first from Newt Gingrich who upset the presumptive frontrunner in South Carolina, and then from former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum who rose to the top of polls after a trifecta of victories early this month.
“How long the process goes on, I think it’s hard to predict. But I’m convinced I’m going to become the nominee, and we’ll be willing to take however long it takes to get that job done,” said Romney on Sunday.
Romney also continued to defend his opposition to the federal government’s bailout of the General Motors and Chrysler, a position that his GOP rivals and president Obama have used to hammer him in Michigan.
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Romney said Obama’s handling of the bailout was politically motivated.
“The result of the president’s plan was that we spent several billion dollars before — at the time we needed to, number one. And, number two, after the process was over, he gave a huge share to the UAW,” said Romney.
“That’s not the way bankruptcy normally works. He was paying off the people that supported him and that, by the way, are trying to get him reelected.”
Romney again tried to shore up his support with conservative GOP voters who are not convinced of his bona fides. He said the “biggest misconception” about him was that “I’m a guy who comes from Massachusetts and who can’t be conservative.”
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“I’m a solid conservative, a committed conservative, with the kind of principles America needs.”
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