Axelrod slams Romney, gets drowned out

WWLP TV

Updated: May 31, 2012 8:12 PM

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) — President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is on the offensive against former Governor Mitt Romney.  Top Obama aid David Axelrod slammed Romney from the Massachusetts State House Thursday, attacking his track record as governor for increasing the state’s debt by $2.6 billion dollars, cutting taxes only for the wealthy, raising fees and losing jobs.

“Under Governor Romney the state was 47 th in job creation, fourth from the bottom,” said Axelrod.

Former North Adams Mayor John Barrett also criticized Romney for being out of touch with the western part of the state.

“He visited Pittsfield on two occasions.  In his opening remark, he said it was great to be in the City of Springfield,” said Barrett.  

But their message was disrupted by a large crowd of Romney supporters chanting “Obama isn’t working” and “Solyndra,” referring to a California clean energy company that was given hundreds of millions in federal loan guarantees only to go bankrupt and layoff more than 1,000 employees.

Hours before Axelrod arrived, Romney’s team took over the State House steps to defend the former Governor.

Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading) said that while Romney was governing Massachusetts, the state was successful at managing its finances.  “We balanced the budget four times, we created a $2 billion dollar rainy day fund, we had a bond upgrade,” said Jones.

“[Romney] created more net new jobs in Massachusetts alone than President Obama’s managed to create in the entire United States combined,” said Rep. Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk).

This week Romney crossed the threshold and won the more than 1,144 delegates needed to clinch the Republican presidential nomination.

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