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After Colorado shootings, Romney cautiously returns to campaign trail

1 of 2. Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney delivers remarks about the shooting in Colorado during what was supposed to be a campaign event at Coastal Forest Products in Bow, New Hampshire July 20, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi

SAN FRANCISCO | Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:46pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gingerly returned to the presidential race on Sunday, telling a San Francisco fundraiser that he would not be "as partisan."

Addressing donors at roughly the same time President Barack Obama was speaking after meeting with survivors of last week's shooting spree in Colorado, Romney sought to focus his remarks on the state of the economy and not Obama's handling of it.

The event was Romney's first since Friday when his campaign hastily scuttled a New Hampshire rally, transforming the event into a memorial service for the 12 people killed and 58 injured by a gunman who opened fire in a crowded Colorado movie theater showing "The Dark Knight Rises."

After a San Francisco fundraiser began with a moment of silence for the victims, Romney said his "remarks will not be as partisan as normal."

Romney even applauded his rival's decision to visit with survivors in Colorado Sunday afternoon.

"He's visiting with families and friends of the victims, which is the right thing for the president to be doing on this day," Romney said. " appreciate that. I will note that my remarks today will not be as partisan as normal, but instead, I'm going to talk about my vision of the country in part keeping with the seriousness and the thoughts of the day."

Romney sought to strike a balance in his remarks, criticizing the shape of the economy without tying his criticisms to Obama.

Instead of blasting Obama for not understanding how the economy works, Romney mentioned some ideas for turning the economy around, including "restoring economic freedom."

Romney aides declined to say how much the San Francisco fundraisers brought in on Sunday.

Romney has so far outraised Obama significantly. At three events on Sunday, tickets ranged from $2,500 to $50,000.

The Republican candidate also said he met earlier in the day with Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr.

A Romney aide said Carr was staying at the hotel where Romney was raising money and requested a meeting with him. The aide said the men met for 10 to 15 minutes.

(Reporting By Sam Youngman; Editing by Stacey Joyce)

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Comments (5)
flashrooster wrote:
“Romney mentioned some ideas for turning the economy around, including “restoring economic freedom.”"

Wow! What a brilliant idea. To turn this economy around all we have to do is restore economic freedom. Man, what a well thought-out master plan. Why isn’t the Republican Congress doing this? Geez, I don’t remember ever seeing any Presidential nominee so ill-prepared as Romney. He’s flip-flopped on every position he’s ever held and he has no plans for dealing with anything. All he does is attack Obama. We’re really screwed if this guy gets elected President.

Jul 22, 2012 11:59pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
justinolcb wrote:
he doesnt need to be partisan, all he needs to do is focus on Obama’s record,,, 14 million people without jobs 4 years later… Movin’ Day starts Nov 7 jus’ sayin’

Jul 23, 2012 1:28pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Montana1 wrote:
@FlashRooster- umm… just what Republican Congress are you referring to?? The HOUSE is Republican and has passed over 30 bills pertaining to jobs- with ZERO hitting the floor of the Senate. hmm, wonder why? Oh Yeah! That’s because the Dems will not let them see the light of day- thanks to the grand pooh-bah Harry Reid who is playing hard politics with people’s lives & jobs!

Yes- Romney is right- restore economic freedom and the economy turns around. In other words- take red tape off business, open up domestic drilling on FEDERAL lands (and I don’t want to hear about “we drill more now than ever!”- that’s because of private property drilling), reduce corporate taxes, give the people a tax rate that is stable for the next 10 years- without Obamacare & open foreign trade with South America among others.

That’s a good start. But then again- I’m just repeating what Romney’s been saying all year- you probably didn’t hear any of that because of the liberal partisanship firmly lodged beteween your ears.

Jul 23, 2012 1:59pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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