Mitt Romney’s comments at a private fundraiser are alarming a number of Republican strategists, some of whom are worried that the fallout could deal a body blow to the GOP nominee’s already struggling campaign.
“It’s a kidney shot because it reveals a very cynical view,” Mark McKinnon, who served as a top strategist to former President George W. Bush, told The Hill. “He’s pushing independent voters out the door.”
McKinnon said the remarks were also a “sharp stick in the eye” to President Obama’s base and would likely fire them up to turn out in bigger numbers this fall.
In his comments, which were caught on video tape and posted online Monday, Romney said that 47 percent of Americans who don’t pay income taxes are “dependent on the government” and “believe they are victims.”
He added that his “job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”
via GOP strategists alarmed over Romney and the '47 percent' – The Hill's Ballot Box.
