Romney mixes up Obama, Osama

Mitt Romney is causing a stir by mixing up most-wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama in an apparent slip of the tongue today.

Campaigning in South Carolina, Romney was criticizing Democrats on foreign policy when he said, according to the Associated Press:

"Actually, just look at what Osam -- Barack Obama -- said just yesterday. Barack Obama, calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. ... It's almost as if the Democratic contenders for president are living in fantasyland. Their idea for jihad is to retreat, and their idea for the economy is to also retreat. And in my view, both efforts are wrongheaded."

Romney apparently was referring to an audiotape broadcast Monday of a man purported to be bin Laden called for insurgents in Iraq to unite.

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said later: "Governor Romney simply misspoke. He was referring to the recently released audiotape of Osama bin Laden and misspoke when referencing his name. It was just a brief mix-up."

But an Obama spokesman issued a sharp response: "Apparently, Mitt Romney can switch names just as casually as he switches positions, but what's wrongheaded is continuing a misguided war in Iraq that has left America less safe. It's time to end the divisiveness and fear-mongering that is at the heart of Governor Romney's campaign."