Romney: 'Victims' comment not elegantly stated

Associated Press

KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

Updated: Sep 18, 2012 3:21 AM

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Republican Mitt Romney is trying to head off a new distraction for his campaign after a video surfaced showing him telling wealthy donors that 47 percent of all Americans "believe they are victims" entitled to help from the government.

Romney offered no apologies at a news conference Monday but conceded the comments were not "elegantly stated" and spoken "off the cuff."

The Republican presidential nominee says the remarks showed a contrast between President Barack Obama's "government-centered society" and his belief in a "free-market approach."

Obama's campaign is pouncing on the video and using it to encourage supporters to donate money to the president's re-election effort.

The video comes as Romney advisers try to reassure party leaders and donors about the Republican's ability to win the White House.

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