Mitt Romney says he likes being able to "fire people" who don't provide adequate business services.
The Republican presidential candidate also is defending his business background as rivals step up their attacks.
Romney told a Nashua Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Monday that he wants to allow people to shop for their own health insurance instead of just receiving it from their employers. He says that would allow them to fire their health insurer if they aren't happy with it.
Romney told a Nashua Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Monday that he wants to allow people to shop for their own health insurance instead of just receiving it from their employers. He says that would allow them to fire their health insurer if they aren't happy with it.
Romney, who made millions working as a venture capitalist, is facing criticism from Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and other rivals over his tenure at Bain Capital.
On Sunday, Romney said he worried about being "pink slipped," though his campaign could not provide an example of when he feared getting fired.
A pro-Mitt Romney super PAC is demanding that Florida television stations keep airing its television ads critical of Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich after Gingrich’s lawyers asked they be removed for inaccuracies.
The spat surrounds how the super PAC, Restore Our Future, characterizes how Gingrich was “fined” $300,000 for ethics violations while serving as speaker of the House.
Spies of Restore Our Future asked any stations considering pulling the super PAC’s ads to talk with him first.
“We trust you will make the right decision by continuing to air ROF’s ad and allowing the people of Florida to hear the facts about their candidates for President,” Spies wrote. “If you have any questions, or believe that this ad is somehow unfit for airing on your station, we ask that you contact us immediately to discuss this matter further.”
Gingrich’s lawyers on Friday wrote to more than 50 television stations in key primary states, according to Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond. The letter states that “ANY statement, suggestion, or innuendo that Speaker Gingrich was assessed a congressional fine for violations of House Ethics Rules is fundamentally false and misleading.”
It continues: “Any statement or suggestion of a ‘fine’ is false. Even a cursory review of either the Report itself or the Congressional Record associated with its presentation to the body of the House undeniably establish the falsity of this statement.”
A month ago, Gingrich vowed to run a positive campaign, only to watch his lead in Iowa vaporized by a slew of negative advertisements, mostly from an independent group backing Romney. Now a group supporting Gingrich is about to unleash its own negative ads, this time in South Carolina, blasting Romney’s role at Bain.
And the former House speaker is providing the prologue to that campaign in the town halls and shops of New Hampshire.
In doing so, Gingrich seeks to reverse his declining poll numbers, a slump that extended to South Carolina and Florida. A stronger-than expected showing in New Hampshire, considered Romney’s backyard, could lift the Georgian as he heads toward more favorable territory in the South.
Gingrich yesterday defended his new attacking posture, saying it is better for Republican voters to know the truth now and to force Romney to aggressively back his record.
“If somebody is going to crumble, they better crumble before the nomination,’’ Gingrich said.
Gingrich also pummeled President Obama’s record, calling him a radical who has changed the nation profoundly. Under Obama, whom he called “the most successful food stamp president in history,’’ he told a crowd of 600 in Hudson that the country has become overly reliant on handouts.
Through the years, it hasn’t been wise to challenge two institutions in the Crescent City: Andrew Jackson and LSU.
Jackson used a celebrated War of 1812 victory against the British in New Orleans to become a game-changing president.
The Tigers, who won the 2003 and 2007 Bowl Championship Series title games in the city, were hoping to add a third Monday.
It took a coach with LSU roots to do it, but the Tigers were denied. No. 2 Alabama ended No. 1 LSU’s run in this Battle of New Orleans with a 21-0 victory in a rematch of their Nov. 5 meeting, which the Tigers won 9-6 in overtime.
It was the second national championship in the last three years and the ninth since 1961 for the Crimson Tide (12-1), which is coached by Nick Saban, who led LSU to its 2003 championship. Saban became the first coach to win three BCS national titles.
‘‘What I feel great about is the players,’’ Saban said, ‘‘and the way they responded to the terrible pain and disappointment we experienced the first time we lost to a very good LSU team. I’m also . . . happy and proud for the people in our community, who have been through so much with the tornado. I hope this lifts their spirits.’’
Alabama kicker Jeremy Shelley made five field goals, tying the record for any bowl game. His seven field-goal attempts were also an all-bowls record.
Shelley was responsible for cashing in on the opportunities with points that he and Foster could not in the first game. He hit a 23-yard field goal to open the scoring in the first quarter. After his second kick was blocked, he added boots of 34 and 41 yards in the first half.
He added two more after intermission to tie a bowl record with five field goals in a game and provide all of the scoring until a late touchdown by Trent Richardson.
"Hitting five in a game like this, it's unbelievable. I can't imagine anything being more gratifying," Shelley said.
His first field goal was set up by a 49-yard punt return by Marquis Maze. In its prior 13 games, LSU had allowed just 6 yards on punt returns all season.
Christian Jones later returned another punt 15 yard to set up another of Shelley's field goal.
Almost as important was Alabama's kick coverage. LSU trailed early against Arkansas and Georgia in its two previous games before Tyrann Mathieu returned punts for touchdowns to turn the tide.
Mathieu had one punt return for 1 yard and Morris Claiborne only averaged 22 yards on kickoff returns as the Tide were the ones to put the Tigers in bad field position all night.
About the only criticism would be a late missed extra point by Shelley after Richardson's score. He, however, was able to laugh it off in the afterglow of the win.
"It was a great opportunity for us and I'm just really glad and enthused we took advantage of it," Shelley said.
