Romney Says He's Concerned About People "At The Edge" Of Economy
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- Whenever he talks about the economy, Mitt Romney typically shows a deft grasp of facts and figures, but at a campaign stop at Gate Petroleum here this morning, the former Massachusetts governor put a human face on the economic slowdown.
"For some folks it means their stock portfolios go down in value—that's not what I'm worried about," Romney told a group of about 80 employees. "What I'm worried about is people who are at the edge and who wonder can they put meals on the table for their kids and will they have good health insurance for their kids and themselves and will they be able to keep a job. Those are the folks you really worry about when you see a recession. And of course, folks in the middle class as well."
The economy figures to be a critical campaign issue in Florida, as exit polls in Michigan, Nevada and South Carolina showed that it was a top concern for Republican voters.
Romney marked Martin Luther King Day at the beginning of his remarks by honoring the civil rights leader's legacy in fulfilling the promise of the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal."
"Martin Luther King is an individual who opened the doors to bringing down so many of the barriers that had kept so many people from having their full potential realized and showed again what one person can do," Romney said. "It's amazing the impact of an individual. Sometime you think problems are huge and they're beyond the scope of anyone's ability to deal with them, but an individual of passion and courage and faith and character can help change an entire nation, as he did."