Has Romney been hunting since 2008 "small varmints" gaffe?

By: Christine Delargy
Topics: Campaign 2012

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speak at the South Carolina Republican presidential candidate debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Monday, Jan. 16, 2012.

(Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)

Some might say Mitt Romney has evolved as a candidate since his 2008 presidential run. After Monday's South Carolina debate, voters can add "hunting skills" to those he has recently added to his repertoire.

Romney was infamously ridiculed for citing "small varmints" when touting his hunting skills during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Piggybacking off a question on gun laws, moderator Juan Williams asked the former Massachusetts governor if he's been hunting since.

In April 2007, Romney said, "I'm not a big-game hunter. I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will. I began when I was 15 or so and I have hunted those kinds of varmints since then."

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At the time, Romney was criticized both for being a "flip-flopper" and an elitist on this hunting issue. He had previously called himself a "lifelong hunter" on the 2008 campaign trail.

Monday evening, Romney admitted he's still "not the great hunter," but has since been "elk hunting" with friends in Montana -- he first answered "moose hunting," but quickly corrected himself -- as well as "pheasant hunting."

"I'm not the great hunter that some on this stage -- probably Rick Perry, my guess is you are a serious hunter," Romney said. "I'm not a serious hunter, but I must admit, I guess I enjoy the sport and when I get invited I'm delighted to be able to go hunting."

Christine Delargy
Christine Delargy is a producer for CBSNews.com.
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by DF68 January 17, 2012 12:46 PM EST: Romney: The Elmer Fudd of political savvy; Reply to this comment


by Tired_of_liars January 17, 2012 12:27 PM EST: by economicterror January 17, 2012 9:18 AM EST
What kind of anti American supporter of the terrorists would insult the Constitutionally elected President of the United States in a time of war??????
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THE SAME KIND OF ANTI AMERICAN TERRORIST THAT SITS HERE ON THESE SITES AND MAKES FUN OF THE CONGRESSMAN IN OFFICE WHO ARE ALSO CONSTITUTIONALLY ELECTED. YOU ARE A FOOL AND A MORON. SHUT THE HELL UP AND GROW THE F UP; Reply to this comment

by Freepress1111 January 17, 2012 7:44 AM EST

I think the country would be well served if all the GOP candidates took a few days off from the campaign trail and went out and did some hunting.....with Dick Cheney.

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by Tired_of_liars January 17, 2012 12:22 PM EST: NO, Only you dumb Democrats want that. You MORONS are all IDIOTS. And Economicterror is the biggest hypocrite on this site


by cigar-smoker January 17, 2012 7:15 AM EST: For some reason I think I would feel safer hunting with Cheney...; Reply to this comment


by nearl451 January 17, 2012 1:08 AM EST: Ever seen an Elk laugh? Varmints,too.; Reply to this comment


by nearl451 January 17, 2012 1:00 AM EST: Like sort of a geeky Jed Clampett then? He's watched "The Beverly Hillbillies" enough when he was a child, so now he imagines he's hunted...."varmints"......or was is Yosemite Sam cartoons.

It's about as funny as Dukakis driving a tank around.; Reply to this comment