Yes, Romney Knows Wealth Comments Are Hurting Him

While campaigning in Michigan ahead of his home state’s primary Tuesday, Mitt Romney was asked whether he thinks his recent comments about his wealth were hurting his campaign. “Yes. Next question,” he replied. The presidential hopeful won’t deny that he’s probably alienating voters by announcing that his wife “drives a couple of Cadillacs” and that he doesn’t follow NASCAR racing “as closely as some of the most ardent fans, but I have some friends who are NASCAR team owners.” And he most certainly didn’t win people over when he told a group of supporters donning plastic rain ponchos, “I like those fancy raincoats you bought. Really sprung for the big bucks.” Still, Romney is a wealthy man, and he’s decided to take a new tack: stop trying to hide it. In an interview with Fox News this weekend, Romney declared: “If people think there’s something wrong with being successful in America then they better vote for the other guy.”