Romney keeps focus on Obama

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

MERRIMACK, N.H. – Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney this morning toured an elevator company here and continued to sharpen his focus on President Obama and all-but-ignore his newly resurgent Republican rivals.

He brushed off several opportunities to contrast himself with Texas Governor Rick Perry, who yesterday in Iowa disparaged Romney’s venture capitalist business background.

“Take a look at his record when he was governor, take a look at my record,” Perry said. “I wasn’t on Wall Street. I wasn’t working in Bain Capital.”

Romney replied today: “At this stage, all I’ve got to say about Governor Perry is he’s a fine guy, a fine governor. Respect him. Look forward to seeing him out on the trail and in the debates. But right now, I’d like to talk about my record, President Obama’s record, why I think President Obama needs to be replaced, and why it is I think he’s in such trouble.”

It illustrated that Romney has little appetite to recalibrate his strategy after Perry entered the Republican presidential race three days ago to great fanfare. He kicked off his campaign the same day Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll.

Speaking before about 30 people at Stanley Elevator Co., Romney continued focusing on his private sector experience as a way to contrast with others in the field.

“I spent 25 years in business. I don’t have all the answers, but I know how to get them,” he added. “In business, things are very unforgiving. You make bad mistakes, and you’ll be gone. In government, you make bad mistakes and you just kick the can down the road and expect somebody else to pay for it, or blame the opposite party.”

Romney made no direct appeal at the Tea Party – as both Perry and Bachmann do - but when asked by reporters, he cast himself as someone who believes in the movement’s goals.

“One of the great things about the Tea Party in my view is that the Tea Party has exactly, in almost every respect, the same priorities as the rest of Republicans, many, many independents, and many Democrats. That is, government is too big, it’s taxing us too much,” Romney said. “As they get to know me better … I think I’ll get great support from the Tea Party.”

But at the same time, Romney made a case for something that is often lost in today’s political atmosphere: civility.

“To get anything done, you have to build relationships with people across the aisle,” Romney said, citing private dinners and weekly leadership meetings with Democratic leaders at the Massachusetts State House.

“Democrats love America. Republicans love America. Independents love America,” he said. “We have different views sometimes, but there’s common ground that can be found. …It’s a nation we have here. We can’t keep on doing things on a highly divided basis.”

Romney has spent much of the last several months touring local businesses like the one in New Hampshire. But the retail side of politics is not something that always comes naturally, something that Perry with his folksy style seems ready to exploit.

“Ian. That’s kind of a British name,” Romney said to a 7-year-old boy asking for an autograph. The boy, Ian Sandhage, responded with a question.

“Are you going to take Obama’s house away from him?” he said.

Later, Romney continued guessing the origins of people’s names.

“I’m Lisa Dellisola,” one woman said to Romney. “That’s a Spanish name? Italian?” he responded. (It’s Italian, and she confirmed Romney had her vote.)

As Romney began to leave the company after his hourlong visit, he looked at the Ellen Boss, the girlfriend of the company’s general counsel, Cory Hussey.

“Nice,” Romney said as she blushed. “Nice choice. Just like me,” a reference to his wife, Ann.