U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney headed out on the
campaign trail Friday, with a renewed attack on what he said were the
failures of President Barack Obama in trying to boost the country's
sluggish economy.
Hours after accepting his party's presidential nomination, Romney told a
rally in Florida that despite Obama's promises of four years ago, the
Democratic incumbent had failed to cut the country's budget deficit or
create as many jobs and new businesses as he said he would.
"Almost every measure he described he has failed to perform upon. And
the reason for that is not that he wasn't trying, in my view. It's he
was pulling in the wrong direction. He didn't know what it takes to
actually make the economy work," Romney said.
Romney later planned to visit the Gulf Coast state of Louisiana, where
Hurricane Isaac left wide swaths of the state in murky floodwaters and
killed five people. Obama is visiting the state on Monday, the day
before Democrats start their national convention to officially nominate
him for a second four-year term.
Romney
- a one-time venture capitalist and former governor of Massachusetts -
says he can boost the country's sluggish economy with lower taxes and
less government regulation. Obama, who was to visit the key state of
Texas Friday, says a Romney presidency would result in a return to
policies that led to the country's worst economic downturn since the
1930s.
Nationwide voter surveys show the two candidates in a virtual tie 10
weeks ahead of the November 6 election.
Romney said that if elected president, he will use a five-step plan to
improve the economy and create 12 million jobs. He also promised "less
flexibility and more backbone" in global diplomacy, along with "more
loyalty" to U.S. allies such as Israel.
The convention night included an appearance from film star Clint
Eastwood, who received a roar from the crowd when he referred to
politicians as "employees" of citizens who need to be let go when they
do not "do the job."
