On the eve of the South Carolina primary, Live 5's Bill Sharpe sat down with Mitt Romney for a one-on-one interview.
Romney said he wouldn`t predict the outcome of Saturday's primary, but did say it would be close.
He also said that he hoped the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade would be overturned allowing states to decide their own individual policies on abortion.
And what if he wins the Republican nomination, beats the president in November and ends up in the White House?
"I've got a whole series of executive orders I`ll put in place on day one," Romney said."I`m going to open up lands for drilling for oil and for gas. I'm going to put a stop on all the Obama regulations. I'll get a corporate tax code competitive with other nations.
One rival for the nomination, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, seized on Mr. Mitt Romney 's offhanded mention of his speaking fees on Wednesday. While disclosing his tax rate, Mr. Romney said he had made "not very much" from the engagements.
"To make a statement that 'I made a couple of extra bucks giving speeches' when that couple of extra bucks was over $300,000—I mean, that to me says a little bit more about Gov. Romney and his connection with the American people than his tax rate," Mr. Santorum said on Fox News.
Democratic strategists say their party faces a tough slog in winning over working-class white voters in November. President Obama's standing among that constituency has slid since 2008. But Obama aides are finding cheer both in Mr. Romney's recent statements about his own wealth and in the GOP discussion of his record as a private-equity investor.
"Mitt Romney has made clear he's quite comfortable playing by a different set of rules than middle-class Americans," said Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt.
Many politicians have shown wealth is no hindrance to winning higher office. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has won three elections as New York mayor. The list of rich presidents stretches back to George Washington and includes Democratic presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Mr. Romney's financial disclosures put his own wealth at $190 million to $250 million.
"But you have to be honest and forthright and relaxed about it," said GOP pollster John McLaughlin, who has worked with Mr. Forbes and other wealthy clients.
In one off-note moment, Mr. Romney talked earlier this month at an event in New Hampshire about an affinity for firing people, just as his campaign was facing attacks that Mr. Romney laid off workers while leading investment firm Bain Capital.
"I like being able to fire people that provide services to me," he said. He was referring to health insurers who gave unsatisfactory service, but opponents used the moment to cast Mr. Romney in a negative light.
Romney said he wouldn`t predict the outcome of Saturday's primary, but did say it would be close.
He also said that he hoped the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade would be overturned allowing states to decide their own individual policies on abortion.
And what if he wins the Republican nomination, beats the president in November and ends up in the White House?
"I've got a whole series of executive orders I`ll put in place on day one," Romney said."I`m going to open up lands for drilling for oil and for gas. I'm going to put a stop on all the Obama regulations. I'll get a corporate tax code competitive with other nations.
One rival for the nomination, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, seized on Mr. Mitt Romney 's offhanded mention of his speaking fees on Wednesday. While disclosing his tax rate, Mr. Romney said he had made "not very much" from the engagements.
"To make a statement that 'I made a couple of extra bucks giving speeches' when that couple of extra bucks was over $300,000—I mean, that to me says a little bit more about Gov. Romney and his connection with the American people than his tax rate," Mr. Santorum said on Fox News.
Democratic strategists say their party faces a tough slog in winning over working-class white voters in November. President Obama's standing among that constituency has slid since 2008. But Obama aides are finding cheer both in Mr. Romney's recent statements about his own wealth and in the GOP discussion of his record as a private-equity investor.
"Mitt Romney has made clear he's quite comfortable playing by a different set of rules than middle-class Americans," said Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt.
Many politicians have shown wealth is no hindrance to winning higher office. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has won three elections as New York mayor. The list of rich presidents stretches back to George Washington and includes Democratic presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Mr. Romney's financial disclosures put his own wealth at $190 million to $250 million.
"But you have to be honest and forthright and relaxed about it," said GOP pollster John McLaughlin, who has worked with Mr. Forbes and other wealthy clients.
In one off-note moment, Mr. Romney talked earlier this month at an event in New Hampshire about an affinity for firing people, just as his campaign was facing attacks that Mr. Romney laid off workers while leading investment firm Bain Capital.
"I like being able to fire people that provide services to me," he said. He was referring to health insurers who gave unsatisfactory service, but opponents used the moment to cast Mr. Romney in a negative light.
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